Reality Star Spencer Pratt Gains Traction in Los Angeles Mayoral Race

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have returned to the spotlight nearly two decades after gaining fame on MTV's "The Hills," as Pratt mounts a campaign for mayor of Los Angeles.

Pratt, 42, and Montag, 39, built their brand on controversy and tabloid attention. Pratt announced his candidacy in January at a "They Let Us Burn!" protest in Pacific Palisades on the one-year anniversary of the fires that destroyed their home.

His campaign picked up steam with donations from Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and backing from Joe Rogan. Viral ads and a strong debate performance on Wednesday against Mayor Karen Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman boosted his profile further.

Pratt met Montag in 2006 at the Hollywood nightclub Privilege. She starred in "The Hills," which premiered in May 2006 alongside Lauren Conrad, Audrina Patridge and Whitney Port. Pratt joined in the second season in 2007, sparking drama with clashes against Conrad.

The couple, dubbed "Speidi," became reality TV fixtures. They married in 2008 and held a televised ceremony in 2009. Their spending peaked then: Pratt told In Touch in 2013 they blew through a $10 million fortune on $4,000 wine bottles and $20,000 to $30,000 daily mall trips. "We were immature and we got caught up," he said.

Montag's 2010 album "Superficial" cost nearly $2 million, she told Entertainment Weekly. "Most artists, it’s not their own money, but I’ve actually gone broke putting every dollar I’ve ever made and my heart and soul into this music." The album flopped. She also underwent 10 cosmetic surgeries in one day at age 23.

After "The Hills" ended in 2010, finances collapsed. They moved in with Pratt's parents and appeared on shows like "I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!," "Marriage Boot Camp" and the U.K.'s "Celebrity Big Brother."

Pratt rebuilt on Snapchat in 2016, winning Snapchatter of the Year at the 2018 Shorty Awards. They launched Pratt Daddy Crystals in 2020. Their revival series "The Hills: New Beginnings" ran from 2019 to 2021; son Gunner, born 2017, appeared on it. Son Ryker arrived in 2022.

The January 2025 Palisades fire destroyed their Pacific Palisades home and his parents' house. Fans pushed "Superficial" to No. 1 on iTunes. In his February memoir "The Guy You Loved To Hate: Confessions From A Reality TV Villain," Pratt wrote they netted $150,000. "What it bought us wasn’t a house — it was proof... Dreams, music, the truth. Those things are fireproof."

Pratt criticized California leaders for "criminal negligence" and met officials like Pam Bondi in Washington in August 2025. Montag backed him after her "Masked Singer" exit in February. "He is the best man for the job," she said on Fox's LiveNow. "It would be great for LA."

Pratt embraces his past. A viral ad contrasts rivals' mansions with his Airstream trailer on the burned lot. "They let my home burn down. I know what the consequences of failed leadership are," he said. "That's why I am running for mayor."

An AI video cast him as a Batman figure saving dystopian Los Angeles. Post-debate with NBC LA, he said, "I'm up here because of their failures... We need an outsider. No more politicians, no more lying. We need the truth." Some strategists see his campaign gaining seriousness.