Spencer Pratt is an American reality television personality and Los Angeles mayoral candidate known for his role as the villain on MTV’s The Hills. He gained public attention for his tumultuous relationship with Heidi Montag and later re-emerged as a dark horse political candidate following the devastating 2025 Palisades fire.
Quick Facts
Full Name: Spencer William Pratt
Age: 42 (born August 14, 1983)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Reality Television Personality, Entrepreneur, Mayoral Candidate
Known For: MTV’s The Hills, “Speidi” with Heidi Montag, 2026 LA mayoral campaign
Marital Status: Married to Heidi Montag (since April 2009)
Children: Two sons (Gunner Stone, Ryker Pratt)
Early Life and Background
Spencer Pratt was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Malibu. He attended the Crossroads School in Santa Monica before enrolling at the University of Southern California, where he studied political science. After a decade of balancing television projects with his education, he completed his undergraduate degree in 2013. He is the elder brother of Stephanie Pratt, also a television personality.
Career and Achievements
Pratt first appeared on television in 2005 as the creator and executive producer of The Princes of Malibu, alongside Brody Jenner. He rose to national fame in 2007 when he joined the cast of MTV’s The Hills. His relationship with cast member Heidi Montag became the show’s central storyline, as their romance ended Montag’s friendship with Lauren Conrad . The ensuing feud carried through multiple seasons, earning Pratt the title of “Greatest Reality TV Villain” in a Yahoo! fan poll.
Beyond The Hills, Pratt and Montag collectively nicknamed “Speidi” competed on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (2009) and twice on the UK’s Celebrity Big Brother (2013 and 2017), finishing as runners-up in their first appearance. He later appeared on Marriage Boot Camp, co-hosted The Spyson Hour podcast, and returned for The Hills: New Beginnings (2019-2022). In 2018, he won a Shorty Award for “Snapchatter of the Year”. He also founded “Pratt Daddy Crystals,” a healing crystals business.
Major Event or Controversy
Pratt has been a polarizing figure throughout his career. He was arrested in Costa Rica in 2010 for attempting to board a plane with hunting weapons and was banned from re-entering the country. In 2009, he and Montag filed for divorce only to call it off months later, admitting it was a publicity stunt to boost her music career. His reputation as a reality TV villain has followed him into politics, with his opponents accusing him of “exploiting the grief” of wildfire victims for political gain.
Why He Is in the News
Pratt is trending after reposting a scathing AI-generated political ad on X (formerly Twitter) on May 5, 2026. The video, created by filmmaker Charlie Curran, depicts Los Angeles as a dystopian hellscape with Mayor Karen Bass portrayed as the Joker and Governor Gavin Newsom as royalty, while a Batman-like Pratt swoops in to save the city. The ad has amassed over 3.6 million views and earned praise from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who called it “maybe the best political ad of the year”. Pratt’s viral moment came just one day before he faced Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman in a televised mayoral debate on May 6.
Conclusion
Spencer Pratt has undergone a remarkable transformation from reality TV’s most hated villain to a legitimate contender in Los Angeles’ mayoral race. Whether his unconventional campaign and AI-powered attack ads will translate into votes on June 2 remains uncertain, but he has undeniably injected new energy into the race.
