In the sizzle reel for CNBC’s “West Texas Investors Club” shown Wednesday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Rooster McConaughey favorably compared his personal wealth to that of Donald Trump. The sound bite was seized on as an opportunity to mine McConaughey and his fellow cast members for Trump-related opinions in the press conference that followed.
“The trouble with Donald Trump is that his thoughts turn into words,” cast member Butch Gilliam said, drawing laughs from the assembled press.
McConaughey quickly chimed in.
“That’s the trouble with us, too,” he said. “We can’t throw stones. We’re in our glass house.”
“West Texas Investors Club,” which premiered last week, features partners McConaughey, Gilliam and Gil Prather deciding whether to invest in small businesses and ideas pitched to them.
The cast was also asked Wednesday a vague question about income inequality.
“Nobody gave us our money,” Gilliam said. “Our message is this: If you’re willing to jump into the frying pan, so to speak, take the heat, stay the distance. We didn’t make money in one night.”
McConaughey added, “Making money isn’t that hard. Holding onto it’s the hard part.”
The cast members described their investment strategy as one that’s focused on people instead of the bottom line.
“You don’t have to go out there and tear everybody’s hair off in trying to get all the money you can get,” McConaughey said when asked for his best investment advice. “There’s plenty of money to go around for everybody. Go out there and be fair and play fair, and you’re gonna get it if you’ve got determination.”