A Texas university that booked Matthew McConaughey as its May commencement speaker has broken the silence on the Texas-born actor's speaking fee. The University of Houston said in a statement Tuesday that it was paying McConaughey speaking fees totaling $135,000 plus travel expenses, as well as a $20,250 commission to the Celebrity Talent International booking agency engaged by the university. Meanwhile, the statement says McConaughey is donating his fees to his jk livin Foundation, which the actor started to provide tools to help high school students lead active lives and make healthy choices for the future. Got $135,000: A Texas university that booked Matthew McConaughey as its May commencement speaker has broken the silence on the Texas-born actor's speaking fee . The university initially balked at revealing McConaughey's fee, citing a confidentiality agreement with the booking agency. However, the university says its business with the agency is now finished. 'The university has concluded its business with CTI and, therefore, is no longer bound by its confidentiality agreement with the agency,' the university said in a statement. It was CTI, however, that initially opposed the disclosure after the Houston Chronicle filed a FOIA request concerning the fee--which will be paid through taxes and tuition. The booking agency argued a 'reporter or someone' might create 'unfair negatives online,' the Chronicle reports. The university will also pay a 15 percent booking fee to CTI, or $20,250. The university did not divulge the fees it's paid to previous speakers, though it is not uncommon for schools to pay celebrities and other biog name speakers top dollar. According to the UH release, jk livin 'serves more than 2,000 students at 24 programs in California, Texas, Louisiana and Washington, D.C.' 'I've had the instincts to help since I was a kid,' McConaughey says. 'I was raised that way. As a kid I was pushed to go give time in my community, and it felt good. You learn as a kid.' The University of Houston is a public institution and one of Texas's largest colleges. Officials there initially balked at revealing McConaughey's salary but has since said a confidentiality agreement is no longer binding .
The public Texas university first balked at disclosing the actor's fee but has since caved, saying a confidentiality agreement is no longer binding.
Actor's jk livin Foundation provides 'tools to help high school students lead active lives and make healthy choices for the future'