The University of Houston is paying $135,000 for Matthew McConaughey to speak at commencement this year, The Houston Chronicle reported. The newspaper had to fight for release of the contract outlining the payment (which McConaughey plans to give to a charity). The university will also pay a booking agency more than $20,000.
Just a few years ago, in 2011 Rutgers University raised some eyebrows by signing a deal to pay Toni Morrison, the Nobel laureate, $30,000 to appear as commencement speaker.