Matthew McConaughey reveals why he turned down $15M role: ‘The residuals decline on quality of life’

nypost.com:

He’s doing alright, alright, alright.Matthew McConaughey has revealed why he turned down an eye-popping $15 million acting role.The Oscar winner, 55, who was once offered the large cash offer, said people often mistake success with how much money that person has in their bank account — a notion he strongly disagrees with.“Right now, money, fame, that’s the definition of success,” the “Dallas Buyers Club” actor said on the “Modern Wisdom” podcast Monday. “Whoever has more, you’re the winner.”Instead, McConaughey said he’s looking to make a “profit” of a different kind.“I think there’s a difference between success and profit.

Profit does pay you back,” the father of three said on the podcast. “I love money. I’m all for it. I see a lot of one way tickets that are ‘You can be successful and have more money but not be making a profit in your life.’”The actor said he knows “many very rich men” who have prioritized climbing the money ladder, but turned out to be very unhappy in their personal lives.“[They] were bewildered.

Lost. Had no relationships,” he said. “They didn’t have purpose. They just chased the dollar.”“They were good at it. They couldn’t necessarily say what they were good at, just good dealmakers who made the right calls,” the Texas native added.The $15 million paycheck he reportedly turned down was rumored to be for a role in the 2008 film “Magnum, P.I.”Shortly after, McConaughey signed on to star in “Dallas Buyers Club” — a role that earned him an Oscar and a more modest payday of $200,000.Still, the actor admits it’s nice having cushy few million sitting in his bank account.“Would I be any less happy if I had a 50th of what I have right now?