The actor and model may have met at a California club in 2006, but their low-key relationship is a far cry from the glitz and glam of Hollywood.
Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves have been together for nearly two decades, welcoming three children along the way: Levi, Livingston, and Vida.
Who are Matthew McConaughey’s children?
After meeting Camila Alves at Joan’s Bar in 2006, Matthew McConaughey was immediately smitten.
The two hit it off after she impressed him when she spoke Portuguese, to which he replied that he was fluent.
“We went out on our first date three nights later and I knew then that the next night I wanted to go on another date,” Matthew told People magazine.
“And I’ve been wanting to go on a date with her for the last [18] years. And not with anybody else,” he added.
Since their first fateful meeting, the celebrity couple has welcomed three children together, including sons Levi and Livingston, and daughter Vida.
Levi
Matthew and Camila’s first and oldest son, Levi Alves McConaughey, was born on July 7, 2008.
Levi means “united,” “joined,” or “joined in harmony,” and is an anagram for “live,” beginning a theme for the McConaughey kids.
While Levi’s parents preferred to keep him out of the public eye when he was growing up, they surprised their firstborn on his 15th birthday by giving him a gift fit for any teen.
In a video posted on Instagram, Matthew and Camila revealed that they were allowing Levi to join social media.
“Happy birthday Levi Alves McConaughey,” Matthew said in the video.
The duo marveled at him turning “15 years young,” before Matthew confirmed that Levi’s mom, Camila, was “a little nervous today about one of the gifts we are giving you.”
Camila agreed, nodding her head, saying she was “a little nervous.”
“We are allowing you Levi, today on your 15th birthday, to join the social media universe,” McConaughey revealed.
“We’ve been talking about this for a long time,” Camila said.
The couple acknowledged that they were “preparing for it, talking about it for three years now.”
The parents agreed that their son “knows who he is,” with Matthew adding: “he know where he’s going.”
“I think he can handle it. He has a great story to tell, to share.”
“I want to let all of y’all know you’re getting a very cool and respectful young man, Levi McConaughey coming at you, and I hope you can all do your best to treat him the same way.”
“Levi, enjoy the adventure, sharing your story, expressing yourself, and exchanging with the people out there,” Matthew shared.
Levi currently has over 320,000 followers on Instagram, where his bio reads: “figuring it out…”
He shares photos and videos of his parents and siblings, friends, and hobbies.
Based on his posts, Levi seems to be into surfing, cooking, photography, horseback riding, and music festivals.
On November 4, 2023, he even shared a sweet tribute for his father’s birthday.
“People know Matthew McConaughey as an actor and now a writer, but I know him as my father,” Levi captioned his post, which accompanied a few family photos.
“The man who always makes time for us no matter what, the man who’s always there for us no matter what, and the man that taught me to appreciate the journey and not just the destination.”
“The journeys just getting started…Happy birthday Papai,” he added.
Vida
Less than two years after welcoming their first child, Matthew and Camila’s daughter, Vida Alves McConaughey, was born on Sunday, January 3, 2010.
Vida, a gender-neutral name, means “life” in Portuguese.
In March 2023, Vida made Hollywood headlines when she joined her mother, Camila, and her older brother, Levi, at Paris Fashion Week for the Stella McCartney fashion show.
On January 4, 2024, Matthew posted a heartfelt tribute on his social media, celebrating his daughter’s 14th birthday a day prior.
“To Vida, who never passed a flower she didn’t pick, Happy Birthday,” he captioned the post.
“A day late because my mobile device flew out of my pocket on the roller coaster loop at her birthday yesterday!” he added.
Followers and fans were quick to point out Vida’s uncanny resemblance to her mother.
“God does she look like her mama,” commented one user, alongside a red heart emoji.
“She’s a copy of Camilla,” wrote another user.
Vida’s older brother, Levi, also shared a snap of the duo riding a rollercoaster.
“Waited to post because we spent yesterday doing one of my sister’s favorite things,” he captioned the post, alongside a rollercoaster emoji.
Livingston
Matthew and Camila welcomed their third child, Livingston Alves McConaughey, on December 28, 2012.
On his 11th birthday, Camila posted a sweet tribute to her youngest son.
“Nothing fancy…just us…December 28th it was Livingston’s birthday!!!” she captioned the post.
“All he wanted to do is go to Altitude the trampoline place in Austin and an ice cream cake!”
“May your heart my son keep its simplicity as you grow in this complicated world!!”
“You challenge me and teach me daily for that I am grateful! What a blessing you are!”
Matthew also got in on the celebration, posting a throwback photo of Livingston.
“Double one’s, we love watching you grow,” he captioned the post.
“Thanks for puttin’ so many smiles on our faces. love, Papa’s,” he added.
The family of five currently resides in McConaughey’s home state of Texas.
They moved to Texas from Los Angeles in 2014.
What has Matthew McConaughey said about fatherhood?
Matthew McConaughey has had time to reflect on his fatherhood journey, which he calls “the pinnacle” of his life.
“It’s the only thing I ever wanted to be,” Matthew shared in a 2020 interview with People.
“Being a dad was always my only dream…I can’t think of anything being more important,” he added.
While Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves have been a team when it comes to parenting, Matthew agrees he’s more of a “yes guy” when it comes to laying down the law.
“Sometimes loving your kids means giving them just what they want,” Matthew shared with Town and Country magazine.
“Other times it means tough love. Affluent people can give their kids everything they want, but they’re not usually going to get what they need.”
“Loving a child is a lot harder if you really give a damn,” he added.
“’No’ takes a lot more energy. It’s a lot easier to say ‘yes.’”
After Matthew’s debut children’s book, Jus Because, became a number one New York Times Best Seller, he confirmed to E! News that “celebrating with his kids over cheeseburgers was pretty priceless.”
Matthew also opened up about what each of his three kids has taught him over the years.
“Levi continues to teach me consideration,” he said.
“He’s an extremely considerate young man and I appreciate that about him,” he added.
Matthew also called his only daughter, Vida, “a real peacemaker,” saying she teaches him “forgiveness.”
As for his youngest child, his son, Livingston, Matthew revealed that “he reminds me of the power of absolute singular focus.”
“When he’s got a project, whether it’s a sport or homework or drawing, he zeroes in and the rest of the world is gone,” he added.