Matthew McConaughey shut down his film production company, record label — and then his whole life changed. Here's what happened and the 3 big lessons you can learn from it

Secure your income

Back in the early 2000s, McConaughey starred in a number of romantic comedies, including “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “Ghosts of Girlfriend Past.” As he explained to The Guardian in 2012, many of these films paid well, this he's been free to be more selective about his roles in recent years.

So when McConaughey was offered a choice between two very different roles with very different paychecks — $15 million to star in a “Magnum, P.I.” remake or $200,000 to star in “Dallas Buyers Club” — he was in a position to turn down the eight-figure salary, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It was this move that both clinched him his first Oscar and transformed him into an A-list star.

McConaughey told the Guardian that he’d always considered himself a serious actor. But, as in most industries, he had to prove his chops before he’d be handed anything. If, like McConaughey, you know what you want but it’s not quite within reach, ask yourself what it’s going to take to get there. Whether that involves going back to school or changing careers, you can use money as a tool to help you get there.

Consider starting an “opportunity fund” (as opposed to an emergency fund) that you contribute regularly to so when the time comes for you to decide between another blockbuster or your Oscar-award winning film, you’ll have enough of a nest egg to pick the project that you’re most passionate about, rather than the most lucrative one.

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Give back

As he gained fame and fortune, McConaughey wanted to give back. So, along with his wife Camila, they created the just keep livin Foundation to help teens across the country make healthy choices and lead active lives, as the charity’s website explains.

While it’s important to think of your own financial security, if you can afford to help others, there are a number of benefits to charitable giving. First, it can make you happy. A 2022 study from lending platform Happy Money looked at the “subjective well-being” of participants who’d reported donating to charity within the previous month and 60% had higher levels of happiness.

What’s more, the study found that those who donate to charity experienced levels of happiness equivalent to earning $36,000 more income — or a near 6% increase in happiness.

So what’s important to you? You may not be as interested in youth like McConaughey, but perhaps causes like financial literacy or the environment are closer to your heart. Once you find your passion area, you can start supporting a charity that aligns with your interests. Your donation won’t only make you smile, you might also qualify for a nice tax deduction.

Remember your purpose

McConaughey’s top priority is his wife, Camila Alves, and their three children, the star told People. He says he does everything for them and considers his kids his “living legacy.”

When you’re in “the zone,” it’s easy to forget why you’re hustling in the first place. But without a purpose, your goals lack substance. Even personal finance expert Ramit Sethi would warn you there’s such a thing as saving too much and living too little.

What’s your “why” for all this hard work and financial planning? To spend more time with family? To pursue your dreams? Don’t let yourself get lost in the hustle and bustle and miss out on experiences you’ll never get back.

In the words of one of McConaughey’s characters, Rust Cohle from “True Detective”: “Life’s barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you get good at.”