Matthew McConaughey’s Move to Texas: The Real Reason Behind the Texodus

Matthew McConaughey Reveals Family Crisis Behind Move from California to Texas

In a surprising revelation, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey recently shared the real reason behind his family’s move from California to Texas back in 2014. The “Dallas Buyers Club” star opened up about the decision in a profile in Southern Living, shedding light on what the magazine described as McConaughey’s “home field advantage” and what others might call a “Texodus.”

The 54-year-old actor explained that the move was prompted by a family crisis that required them to relocate to Austin to help his mother and two brothers for several weeks. While the nature of the crisis was not disclosed, the couple bought a mansion in the Austin area in 2012 and made the move permanent in 2020 when they sold their Malibu estate.

McConaughey’s wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, a Brazil-born model and entrepreneur, initially had reservations about the move but quickly noticed a change in her husband during their brief stay in Texas. She described McConaughey as lighter, gentler, and freer in the Lone Star State, prompting her to ask him if he wanted to move back. To her surprise, he immediately agreed.

Despite her initial reaction, Alves McConaughey soon realized that Texas reminded her of her own upbringing in the Minas Gerais countryside, where she grew up with similar customs and traditions. The couple found solace in the slower pace of life, the sense of community, and the lack of drama in Texas.

Since their move, McConaughey has become a prominent figure in his home state, cheering on his alma mater’s football team, teaching a film course at the University of Texas at Austin, and even considering a gubernatorial run in 2021. The couple has also ventured into the spirits industry, marketing their tequila brand, Pantalones, sourced from Jalisco, Mexico.

Their move from California to Texas is part of a larger trend, with more than 100,000 Californians making the move to Texas in 2022, according to U.S. census data. The couple’s decision to leave behind the paparazzi-filled life in Malibu for a more private and peaceful existence in Texas has clearly paid off, allowing their family to thrive away from the spotlight.