Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves's Relationship Timeline

Like many Y2K romances, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves's love story kicked off at an L.A. nightclub. But unlike the other celebrity relationships at that time, theirs actually lasted — 17 years and counting. 

The two met back in 2006 — just as Matthew was giving up hope on ever finding "the one," that is, until Camila walked in. "That’s when she showed up, and she moved right to left in front of my eyes across that club. It was as if she was floating," he told People in 2020. "And I did not say, ‘Who is that?’ I said, ‘What is that?’ And then introduced myself."

Since then, Matthew has had no regrets about his life with the Brazilian-born model. The two got married six years later in 2012 and welcomed three children together — sons Levi and Livingston, and a daughter, Vida. "Since that evening, I have not wanted to spend time with any other woman, definitely have not wanted to sleep with anyone else. I’ve not wanted to have children with anyone else other than her," he explained. "We have a love that we never question."

Take a look back at McConaughey and Alves's relationship, from the early aughts on.

2006: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves meet at a nightclub.

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves first met at Hyde nightclub in West Hollywood in 2006. The actor was playing bartender, making margaritas, when Alves passed by. "I can’t get my eyes off her, and I’m waving, trying to get [her attention], ‘Hey, over there!’ Finally, catch her eye," he said during an interview with Howard Stern in 2017. “I go over and introduce myself. I do the smart thing of inviting her and her friends over.”

Camila left her friends and instead came to Matthew's table by herself and ended up going home with him.

“We go back to the house and continue to party for a while, and I’m trying to extend the time. Now she’s like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna go, I’m gonna get a cab.’ I’m like, ‘No, no, no, don’t do that, it’s way too late. Take the guest bedroom.’ Talk her into that,” he continued. “I did sneak down to the guest bedroom twice that night and got booted out.” The model rejected him twice more before agreeing to go on a date with him.

January 2008: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves make their red carpet debut. 

After dating for over a year, Camila and Matthew officially made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Fool's Gold premiere in Los Angeles.

Reflecting on the day years later, Camila revealed how nerve-wracking the entire experience actually was. "I was so nervous; we had already been dating for a while, and I had been to movie premieres with him but always sneaking in through the back to keep our privacy," she wrote on Instagram. "This was the first time going 'here we go' the minute I stepped onto the carpet, the WIND picked up like crazy, and this flowing, knee-length dress pretty quickly became crotch high!"

She added, "I laugh the whole way because if you can't fix it, may as well laugh, right!!"

July 2008: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcome their first child together. 

McConaughey and Alves welcomed their first son, Levi Alves McConaughey, on July 7, 2008, via an emergency cesarean section.

"A healthy baby boy was born," McConaughey said in a statement at the time. "Camila and I were side-by-side the entire time. We are both tired and elated and are so happy to have created the greatest miracle in the world — having a child and making a family. Now comes the greatest adventure — raising one, together."

July 2009: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves are expecting again.

Nearly a year after Levi was born, Matthew announced that he and Camila were expecting a second child on his website.

"Happy Father's Day. It's my first, and the last 11 months with Levi and Camila have been the most rewarding adventure to date," McConaughey wrote on his now-defunct website. "We have more blessed news to celebrate this Father's Day that makes this time next year double the fun. Levi is going to be a big brother … Yeah, we pulled off the greatest miracle in the world one more time."

He continued, "Camila and I are expecting our second child, bringing more life into the world, making more to live for. The future looks bright as the family grows, and we thank you for all the well wishes you send our way. "

January 2010: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcome baby number two. 

On January 3, 2010, Matthew and Camila welcomed their second child and first-and-only daughter, Vida Alves McConaughey.

The actor announced the happy news on his website, writing to fans: "‘Vida’ is Portuguese for ‘life’ and that’s what God gave us this morning. Camila’s recovering wonderfully, and we are both truly honored to welcome this little lady into our family. Thanks for all of your well wishes and prayers along the way. Another blessed day, we give thanks.”

December 2011: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves are engaged.

Matthew asked Camila to marry him on Christmas Day 2011 with a rose-cut Cathy Waterman engagement ring.

"It was the last gift to be opened, and I wrapped it in seven different boxes so Camila would have to keep unwrapping," McConaughey told People about his proposal. "She got the ring. I took a knee and asked her to marry me and take my name. After a bit, she conceded … thankfully."

June 2012: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves are married.

McConaughey and Alves wed during a three-day celebration at their home in Austin, Texas on June 9, 2012. The couple's children, Levi and Vida, served as the ring bearer and flower girl, while celebrity guests, including Reese Witherspoon, Kenny Chesney, and Woody Harrelson, watched on as they exchanged their vows.

July 2012: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves announce they are expecting a third child.

On July 4th, less than a month after their wedding, Camila announced that she and Matthew were expanding their family by one more. "Happy birthday, America, more good news, Matthew and I are expecting our 3rd child, God bless, just keep livin'," she wrote on Twitter.

December 2012: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcome their third baby. 

The couple welcomed a baby boy, Livingston Alves McConaughey, on Dec. 28, 2012 — just days away from his big sister Vida's third birthday.

"Camila gave birth to our third child yesterday morning. Our son, Livingston Alves McConaughey, was born at 7:43 am on 12.28.12," Matthew tweeted. "He greeted the world at 9lbs. and 21 inches. Bless up, and thank you for your well wishes. Happy New Year, and just keep livin', Camila and Matthew McConaughey."

March 2014: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves share a swoon-worthy kiss at the Oscars. 

McConaughey took home his first Oscar in 2014 when he won Best Actor for his role in Dallas Buyers Club — and Camila congratulated him with a kiss in front of the entire audience.

November 2014: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves attend Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony with their three kids. 

Camila and the couple's three kids — Levi, Vida, and Livingston — all came out to support Matthew on the day he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Like her mom, Vida wore a white floral mid-length dress, while Levi and Livingston looked adorable in their mini suits.

November 2016: Matthew McConaughey reveals Camila Alves supported him stopping rom-coms.

During an interview with Esquire, Matthew revealed that he wanted to change the course of his acting career and that his wife was all for it. Explaining how romantic comedies became his "brand," McConaughey admitted that he wanted to be taken more seriously and turned down a $14.5 million role with Camila's complete support.

"A good woman gives a man courage and confidence — the courage to have the confidence to go and do it, to not be worried as much or consider as much what the rest of the world thinks," he said.

April 2022: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves become best-selling authors.

McConaughey and Alves both landed on The New York Times best-seller list at the same time. Matthew's memoir Greenlights had been on the list for 65 weeks already, and Camila made the list for the first time for her children's book, Just Try One Bite.

August 2023: Camila Alves says Matthew McConaughey's mom tested her at the beginning of their relationship.

While Camila and Matthew's love story might have seemed like a fairytale, it wasn't always smooth sailing for the couple — especially at the beginning. During an appearance on Southern Living's Biscuits & Jam podcast, Camila revealed that Matthew's mom, Mary Kathlene McCabe, hazed her when they first started dating.

"She did all these things when I first came into the picture," Alves said. "She was really testing me. I mean, really testing me. She would call me by all of Matthew's ex-girlfriends' names. She would start speaking Spanish with me in a very broken way, kind of putting down a bit. I mean, all kinds of stuff." 

Their tension eventually hit a boiling point during a trip to Istanbul. "The whole way there, the whole plane ride to Istanbul, she was telling me all these stories and putting all these things in my head,” Camila said. "So, I just flip it on her and brought my spicy Brazilian, Latin side, and I let her have it. I went back at her, and we had it back and forth, back and forth. And then at the end, she just looked at me, and she was like, ‘OK. Now you’re in.'”