ElevenLabs Launches Iconic Voice Marketplace with Michael Caine, Matthew McConaughey
Key Takeaways
- âś“ ElevenLabs launches 'Iconic Voice Marketplace' with celebrity voice licensing
- âś“ Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey among first to partner
- âś“ Marketplace includes voices of living and deceased icons like Judy Garland and John Wayne
- âś“ McConaughey invests in ElevenLabs and will use tech for Spanish newsletter
- âś“ Platform allows licensed commercial and editorial use of AI-cloned celebrity voices
What Happened
ElevenLabs, the AI voice technology company valued at $6.6 billion, has launched the Iconic Voice Marketplace—a platform where users can request access to AI-cloned celebrity voices for commercial and editorial content.
Oscar-winning actors Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey are among the first high-profile partners. McConaughey has also made an investment in the company, though financial terms were not disclosed.
“For years, I’ve lent my voice to stories that moved people — tales of courage, of wit, of the human spirit. Now, I’m helping others find theirs. ElevenLabs is at the very forefront of technology, using innovation not to replace humanity, but to celebrate it.” — Sir Michael Caine
How the Marketplace Works
The Iconic Voice Marketplace operates on a request-and-licensing model:
- Submit a request for a specific voice
- ElevenLabs matches the request with rights holders
- Negotiate terms off-platform with the voice owner or estate
- Receive the cloned voice via ElevenLabs’ technology
This approach ensures that celebrities and their estates maintain control over how their voices are used, addressing concerns about unauthorized AI voice cloning that have plagued the industry.
Available Voices
The marketplace features an impressive roster of both living and deceased icons:
| Living Celebrities | Deceased Icons |
|---|---|
| Michael Caine | Judy Garland |
| Liza Minnelli | John Wayne |
| Art Garfunkel | Laurence Olivier |
| Matthew McConaughey | Burt Reynolds |
| Maya Angelou | |
| Amelia Earhart | |
| J. Robert Oppenheimer | |
| Alan Turing | |
| Thomas Edison |
Caine’s voice is also available on the ElevenReader app to narrate books, articles, and PDFs—a practical application for accessibility and content consumption.
Why This Matters for Creators
For Content Creators
Access to iconic voices opens new possibilities for documentaries, podcasts, audiobooks, and educational content. Imagine a history podcast narrated by the actual voices of historical figures.
For Marketers
Licensed celebrity voices can add authenticity and recognition to campaigns without the complexity of traditional celebrity endorsements.
For Voice AI Industry
This represents a shift toward consensual AI voice cloning—a contrast to the unauthorized deepfakes that have created controversy. ElevenLabs recently settled a lawsuit from actors who accused the company of misappropriating their voices.
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Try ElevenLabs →McConaughey’s Investment
Beyond licensing his voice, Matthew McConaughey has made a strategic investment in ElevenLabs. He plans to use the technology to launch a Spanish-language edition of his newsletter, Lyrics of Livin’.
“Now, thanks to ElevenLabs, Lyrics of Livin’ is expanding with a Spanish language edition, allowing us to reach and connect with even more people,” McConaughey said.
This highlights a practical use case: creators can use AI voice cloning to expand their reach into new language markets while maintaining their authentic voice.
The Bigger Picture
ElevenLabs was founded in 2022 by former Google and Palantir employees. The company has grown rapidly, reaching a $6.6 billion valuation in October 2025 and reportedly adding $14 million in ARR in a single day.
The Iconic Voice Marketplace represents ElevenLabs’ strategy to legitimize AI voice cloning through proper licensing—potentially setting a standard for the industry as concerns about voice deepfakes and unauthorized cloning continue to grow.
What we’re watching: How rights holders price voice licensing, and whether this model spreads to other AI voice companies.