Spencer Pratt
American television personality (born 1983)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spencer William Pratt (born August 14, 1983) is an American reality television personality and political candidate in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral election. In 2007, he began dating Heidi Montag, a primary cast member of the reality television series The Hills, and came to prominence after being cast in the series. Their relationship ultimately ended Montag's friendship with fellow cast member Lauren Conrad. The ensuing feud among the three became the central focus of the series and carried on through each subsequent season.
Spencer Pratt | |
|---|---|
Pratt in 2026 | |
| Born | August 14, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California (BA) |
| Occupation | Reality television personality |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Television | |
Other political affiliations | Independent (2008–2020)[1] |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Stephanie Pratt (sister) |
The couple, collectively nicknamed "Speidi", married in April 2009. Later that year, they made controversial appearances on the second season of the American version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! In 2013, Montag and Pratt competed as a single entity on the eleventh series of the British version of Celebrity Big Brother, and returned to compete as a single entity on the nineteenth series in 2017. Pratt formerly appeared on Wife Swap and The Spyson Hour, a weekly segment on the reality TV podcast Rob Has a Podcast. In 2026, he published a memoir entitled The Guy You Loved to Hate: Confessions from a Reality TV Villain.
Early life and education
Pratt was born August 14, 1983, in Los Angeles, California.[2] Pratt's father is William "Skip" Pratt, a dentist who grew up in Inglewood, California, and once aspired to play professional baseball before switching careers. His mother is Janet Pratt; she had a daughter, Kristin, from a previous marriage. Skip and Janet also have a daughter, Stephanie Pratt, who appeared on The Hills with him and is a television personality.[3]
He attended the Crossroads School. In December 2013, Pratt completed his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Southern California. Pratt had left his studies to pursue television projects and re-enrolled in 2011.[4]
Reality television career
Early career and The Hills
Pratt first appeared on television in 2005 in the short-lived reality series The Princes of Malibu. As creator and executive producer of the series, Pratt acted in the role of "manager/publicist/agent/stylist" for series star Brody Jenner.[5] In 2006, MTV developed the reality television series The Hills as the spin-off of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. It originally chronicled the lives of Lauren Conrad, Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge, and Whitney Port.[6] In 2007, Pratt began dating and lived with Montag.[7][8] During the third season, Conrad ended her friendship with Montag after she suspected that Pratt was responsible for rumors of a sex tape involving her and her former boyfriend Jason Wahler; the ensuing feud between the three carried through each subsequent season.[9]
At the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV announced a reboot of The Hills entitled The Hills: New Beginnings, slated to premiere in 2019. Pratt was announced as part of the cast of the new series.[10][11][12] The show followed the Pratts as they navigated running their business "Pratt Daddy Crystals" and wanting to expand their family. The show was cancelled after two seasons.
Music and celebrity appearances
In August 2007, Montag entered the music industry and began recording her debut studio album. Later that month, the song "Body Language" was leaked on the internet, and featured a rapped verse from Pratt.[13] He later directed the music video for Montag's first promotional single "Higher".[14] In 2009, Pratt released the song "I'm a Celebrity," in which he called himself "the white Jay-Z."[15][16] Pratt created the song to be released in conjunction with his role on the 2009 season of NBC's reality television "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!"[16] Pratt came up with the rap name "Great White" from fighter Kevin Cale Casey, a professional fighter, who apparently would refer to Pratt by this moniker. Pratt said that his biggest rap influences were Eminem and Asher Roth.[17]
In 2009, Montag and Pratt appeared on the second season of the American version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[18] They quit after Montag was hospitalized with a gastric ulcer[19] and later created controversy after alleging that they were subject to torture during production.[20] After leaving the series, Montag and Pratt became notorious for their antics and antagonistic roles, notably during an interview with Al Roker of Today,[21] and were described as "everything that's wrong with America".[22] In May 2010, Pratt and Montag made their final appearance on The Hills halfway through the sixth and final season.[23][unreliable source?] In 2009, Spencer and Heidi appeared on the How I Met Your Mother episode "Benefits" as themselves.
The couple has been featured in documentary programs. In 2013, Channel 5 aired a one-off television special discussing Montag and Pratt's rise to prominence, titled Speidi: Scandal, Secrets & Surgery!.[24] The couple appeared in the E! Documentary special After Shock: Heidi & Spencer.[25]
Big Brother and later projects
The couple have appeared on Big Brother. In January 2013, Montag and Pratt (as a single entity) competed as housemates on Celebrity Big Brother 11,[26] where they notably developed a minor feud with singer and television personality Rylan Clark.[27] They were named the runners-up, losing to Clark.[28] In 2017, Pratt re-entered the Celebrity Big Brother 19 with his wife. On Day 18, the couple was eternally nominated by James Cosmo, which they did not have a good reaction to. They were saved in an eight-person eviction on Day 22. However, they were evicted on Day 25 against Kim Woodburn, Jessica Cunningham, Bianca Gascoigne and Jedward; after they finished in 9th place. Pratt and Montag were reunited with their series 11 rival, Rylan Clark-Neal, on Big Brother's Bit on the Side that night.
In 2015, Pratt and Montag were houseguests on We TV's Marriage Boot Camp, as they worked out their differences about having children.[29] In 2026, when Montag competed in season fourteen of The Masked Singer as "Snow Cone", Pratt was in the background of the performances as a snow cone-headed character that was later named "Mr. Snow Cone". As Montag was eliminated on "Spice Girls Night", Pratt took over the unmasking duties of the Men in Black and then unmasked himself.[30][31]
Personal life
During the fourth season of The Hills, Montag and Pratt eloped in Mexico on November 20, 2008.[32] A wedding ceremony was held on April 25, 2009, in Pasadena, California.[33][34] In July 2010, Montag filed for divorce from Pratt, citing irreconcilable differences in the petition.[35] However, they called it off in September after confessing that the action was intended to boost Montag's ailing career.[36] In November, they renewed their vows in Carpinteria, California.[37] Their son Gunner Stone was born on October 1, 2017.[38] Their second son, Ryker Pratt, was born on November 17, 2022.[39]
He is a Christian, He was baptized by Stephen Baldwin in 2009.[40]
Pratt was arrested and jailed in Costa Rica on September 11, 2010, while attempting to board an aircraft with hunting weapons. He was subsequently released and banned from re-entering the country.[41] He said the incident was "wildest day ever of either of our lives" and brought him and Montag closer together.[42]
Palisades fire
On January 7, 2025, Pratt's home was destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire.[43] The couple purchased the home for approximately $2.5 million in 2017. After the fire, they relocated to a rental home in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County. Initially, they were not sure they would be able to afford the price to rebuild the home due to construction costs and ongoing mortgage payments.[44]
Pratt sued the city of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power, along with other property owners, and blamed the city and the utility for the destruction of their homes.[45] He went to Washington D.C. to meet with Attorney General Pam Bondi and other federal officials about launching an investigation into Newson and Bass.[3]
2026 Los Angeles mayoral election
On January 7, 2026, Pratt announced that he would be running for Mayor of Los Angeles in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral election, challenging incumbent Karen Bass.[46] He announced his campaign of the one year anniversary of the Palisades fire.[47] Although the race is officially nonpartisan race,[48] Pratt is a registered Republican and he has downplayed his party registration.[1] Conservatives have generally supported Pratt's campaign.[49] Jeanie Buss supports his campaign.[50] Others to donate to the campaign include Katharine McPhee, Rick Salomon, and Jeff Jenkins.[51] As of April 2026, he had raised over five hundred thousand dollars.[52]
In February 2026, his sister made allegations against Pratt and urged voters to not support his campaign.[53] In a April 2026 CalMatters commentary article, journalist Jim Newton argued that his own memoir undermined his campaign.[54] In May 2026, he wrote he is "done" with CBS News after accusing the network of running a hit piece on him with clips from The Hills.[55]
Policy positions
Pratt's political positions include improving infrastructure,[56] increasing funding for LAPD[57] and incarcerating those who participate in street takeovers (sideshows).[58]
In a May 2026 debate that was hosted by KNBC, he characterized himself as a community advocate like former President Barack Obama.[59] Some commentators found his debate performance effective with voters.[60] In that same debate, Pratt denied being a part of Make America Great Again.[59] He argued that super meth is fueling homelessness in the city of Los Angeles.[61] He argued to increase spending on LAPD and decrease homelessness funding.[62]
He had a viral campaign video that used Artificial intelligence. The video has a Batman theme and highlights crime and homelessness in Los Angeles.[63][64] During the campaign, he had a video that was filmed, in part, outside the homes of other candidates Nithya Raman and current Mayor Karen Bass. Raman accused Pratt of being reckless for filming outside her home.[65] A spokesperson for Bass's campaign said, he was "doing his best Trump impression."[66]
Nominations
- TV Guide included him in its 2013 list of "The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time."[67]
- Pratt's work on The Hills earned him the title of "Greatest Reality TV Villain" on Yahoo!'s fan-voted poll in 2015. Other nominees for this award included Juan Pablo Galavis, Omarosa Manigault, Will Kirby, and Russell Hantz.[68]
- Pratt developed a widespread fanbase on Snapchat by posting stories showing his family, daily life and his passion for hummingbirds. His popularity led to him being nominated in January 2018 for Snapchatter of the Year at the 10th Annual Shorty Awards, eventually winning the category.[69]
Bibliography
- The Guy You Loved to Hate: Confessions from a Reality TV Villain. Gallery Books. January 2026. ISBN 978-1668211762.