Matthew McConaughey has lived in Austin, Texas since 2012, and his Lake Austin estate is everything you’d expect from a man who famously calls Texas home. The Oscar winner paid around $6 million for the property and has watched its value climb past $10 million as Austin’s luxury market surged in the years since.
The estate sits on a nine-acre parcel in the Rivercrest neighborhood, south of downtown, with direct access to Lake Austin. It’s a genuine compound, not just a big house, with a guest house, four-car garage, and seven consecutive boat slips running down to the water’s edge.
The Property: Key Numbers
McConaughey’s estate was originally listed at $6.6 million when he purchased it in 2012. Current estimates place the market value north of $10 million, reflecting both improvements to the property and the broader appreciation in Austin’s luxury real estate market over the past decade.
The numbers tell a clear story about the scale of the compound.
- Square footage: 10,800 sq ft
- Lot size: 9 acres
- Bedrooms: 7
- Bathrooms: 8
- Garage: 4 cars
- Boat slips: 7 (consecutive, down to Lake Austin)
- Built: 1997
- Purchase price: ~$6 million (2012)
- Estimated current value: $10 million+
Spanish Mediterranean Architecture
The mansion was built in 1997 and designed in the Spanish Mediterranean style, a rarity in Central Texas. The exterior features stucco walls, terra cotta roof tiles, arched windows, and a gated entry with a long oak-tree shaded driveway. Two circular motor courts give the approach a deliberate, grand feeling.
The architecture leans toward timeless rather than flashy. There’s no attempt to be modern or trendy. The stone accents, wrought iron details, and covered terraces feel consistent with the style’s roots, and the mature oak canopy around the home adds a level of privacy that newer construction simply can’t replicate.
A guest house sits on the grounds and is architecturally matched to the main residence. At 9 acres, the lot provides enough buffer that the home doesn’t feel overlooked from neighboring properties, which matters considerably on Lake Austin’s shoreline.
Inside the Estate
The interior reflects a blend of Texas character and Mediterranean formality. Rich wood details run throughout the home, paired with marble countertops and beige stone tile floors. A spiral staircase connects the floors, and an elevator serves the residence as well, which is unusual at this price point even in Austin’s upper tier.
The kitchen features two oversized islands, enough for a working cook who actually uses the space. Seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms give the household room to host extended family or guests without anyone crowding. The layout takes advantage of the hillside site, with multiple terraces and water views from the upper levels.
The guest house functions as a separate living unit with its own entrance. For a family with three kids, the ability to keep guests off the main residence floor makes the compound format practical rather than purely aspirational.
Lake Austin Living: 7 Private Boat Slips
Seven consecutive boat slips running down from the estate to the water is an unusual amenity, even for Lake Austin. Most waterfront properties in the area have one or two slips at most. A lineup of seven suggests McConaughey planned to use the water access seriously, whether for jet skis, a pontoon, or hosting friends on the lake.
Lake Austin is a reservoir on the Colorado River, managed to stay at a consistent level, which keeps the docks usable year-round. The water stays cooler and calmer than nearby Lake Travis, which makes it preferred for swimming and recreational boating. Waterfront lots on Lake Austin are among the most coveted in the entire Austin metro, and nine-acre parcels with this kind of lake frontage rarely come to market.
Rivercrest: One of Austin’s Priciest Zip Codes
The Rivercrest neighborhood sits south of downtown Austin, west of Barton Hills, and borders Lake Austin directly. It’s served by the Eanes Independent School District, which includes Westlake High School, and that school district affiliation plays a real role in property values here. Eanes ISD consistently ranks among the top districts in Texas.
Home prices in Rivercrest range from the mid-seven figures to over $16 million. A lakefront estate on nearby Rivercrest Drive listed at $12 million in recent years, which gives a useful benchmark. Properties on the water at this scale rarely trade hands quickly, and inventory stays thin.
Rivercrest is part of a broader West Austin luxury corridor that includes Tarrytown and Rollingwood. If you’re looking at the most expensive neighborhoods in Austin, this stretch of lakeside real estate consistently ranks at the top. The property tax rate in Rivercrest sits around 1.4%, which on a $10 million property translates to roughly $140,000 annually.
Why McConaughey Chose Austin
McConaughey grew up in Uvalde, Texas and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he later returned as a professor in the Moody College of Communication’s Radio-Television-Film program. Austin isn’t a lifestyle experiment for him. It’s the city where he studied, started his career, and eventually decided to raise his family.
He and his wife Camila Alves moved from Malibu to Austin in 2012 with their children, Levi, Vida, and Livingston. The stated reasoning was privacy, lifestyle, and a genuine preference for Texas over Southern California. Austin offered a large property close to nature without the density of Los Angeles, and the Texas tax structure (no state income tax) made the financial calculus straightforward for a major earner.
In 2019, McConaughey was named an honorary ambassador for the city of Austin. He remained publicly engaged with the community throughout, especially following the Uvalde school shooting in 2022 when he advocated for gun safety legislation in Washington.
Celebrity Neighbors
Austin’s celebrity real estate market has filled in considerably over the past decade. McConaughey was among the earlier major arrivals, but he now has a well-known roster of neighbors in and around the Lake Austin corridor.
Sandra Bullock has an estate on Lake Austin as well, in the same general reach of the waterfront. Joe Rogan relocated to Austin from Los Angeles around 2020, settling in the same zip code cluster. Kendra Scott, the Austin-based jewelry entrepreneur, is a prominent local name in the area’s luxury social circle.
The broader Austin celebrity scene has grown to include Emma Stone, who put down roots in the city, and Glen Powell, the Austin native who returned home after becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. The city’s reputation as a low-key alternative to Los Angeles continues to attract entertainment industry figures who want space, privacy, and proximity to a functional city.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Matthew McConaughey pay for his Austin mansion?
McConaughey purchased the estate in 2012 for approximately $6 million. The original listing price was $6.6 million. Current market estimates place the property’s value at over $10 million, reflecting Austin’s substantial appreciation in the luxury segment over the past decade.
Where exactly is Matthew McConaughey’s house in Austin?
The property is located in the Rivercrest neighborhood of Austin, near Lake Austin and south of downtown. The street address has been reported as Hillbilly Lane in the 78746 zip code, though McConaughey has kept the specific address relatively private. The estate sits on nine acres with direct lake access.
How big is Matthew McConaughey’s Austin mansion?
The main residence measures 10,800 square feet and sits on a nine-acre lot. The estate includes 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, an elevator, a guest house, a four-car garage, and seven private boat slips on Lake Austin. The mansion was built in 1997.
What style is Matthew McConaughey’s Austin home?
The home was built in a Spanish Mediterranean architectural style, featuring stucco walls, terra cotta roof tiles, arched windows, and a long oak-tree shaded driveway leading to two circular motor courts. The interior includes wood detailing, marble counters, and a spiral staircase. It’s one of the more formal architectural styles on Lake Austin’s waterfront.
Does Matthew McConaughey still live in Austin?
Yes. McConaughey has made Austin his primary residence since 2012 and has shown no indication of leaving. He serves as a professor at the University of Texas, maintains an active public presence in the city, and was named an honorary Austin ambassador in 2019. He has spoken publicly about his commitment to Texas on multiple occasions.
Who are Matthew McConaughey’s celebrity neighbors in Austin?
Several notable figures live in or near McConaughey’s Lake Austin neighborhood. Sandra Bullock has a lakefront estate in the area. Joe Rogan relocated to Austin in 2020 and lives nearby. Kendra Scott, the jewelry entrepreneur, is a prominent local resident. Actors Emma Stone and Glen Powell have also established residences in Austin.
The Bottom Line
McConaughey’s Lake Austin estate is a legitimate compound, not a showpiece. Nine acres, 10,800 square feet, seven boat slips, and a guest house in one of Austin’s tightest luxury neighborhoods makes it the kind of property that rarely trades hands twice. He bought it at the right time, and the Rivercrest market has rewarded him for staying.
