Featured Image Credit: @spencerpratt/TikTok/Vivien Killilea/Getty
Topics: Wildfires, Los Angeles
Joe Yates
Topics: Wildfires, Los Angeles
It's rare to hear celebrities talk candidly about their income so it's a breath of fresh air hearing Spencer Pratt do so, well it would be if the circumstances weren't so dire.
The ongoing LA wildfires have caused the most destruction to Los Angeles County in its history with thousands of homes incinerated and areas reduced to rubble.
12 days ago (January 8) Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag, who are best known for their roles in The Hills, could only watch from afar as their home was destroyed.
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Since then, the dad-of-two has documented his and his young family's journey as he, Montag, their two sons, seven-year-old Gunner and two-year-old Ryker, have been displaced and were struggling for money.
Taking to TikTok at the time, he posted: "I know people are like you're rich you will be fine (Yah i wish). Everything in our house was paid for by heidi and i hustling any way we could.
"EVERYTHING we have worked for was in this house. For the people that are like insurance will cover it. Obviously you don't know what you're talking about.
"I know everyone is like at least you have your family. Yes i know but we are starting at zero now."
He's posting more frequently and longer videos, on both Snapchat and TikTok, and is trying to earn a revenue stream from his account.
While he's admitted to having gained a million followers on TikTok since posting his house was burned down, the sudden influx means he's earning less than other influencers on the platform - earning just 10 cents per 1,000 views... although it all adds up.
“I heard that last night at 3 a.m. and I was like, awesome. I’ve never been so excited to get a million followers in a week. I think I would be making more money with my following, and just being engaged,” he said (via Variety).
“I made, like, $4,000 on TikTok this week, but on TikTok Live, where people can just give to me direct, I think maybe $20,000. So that’s phenomenal, and life-changing. That’s the power of individual supporters, people just backing you and getting behind you,” explained Pratt.
"And that’s the most powerful when you don’t have to rely on ads or AI and algorithms when just actual human beings just want to give. It’s unbelievable and incredible."
A GoFundMe page has also been set up for the family, which has so far raised over $135,000.
It explains: "Spencer, Heidi, and their boys lost everything in the Pacific Palisades fire.
"I set this up for them to help them rebuild after losing everything they owned in the fire. The money will go directly to them and it will be used at their discretion to rebuild their lives. They need to buy everything, clothes, food, household items, etc."
On January 7, the wildfires began and it hasn't stopped since - with authorities confirming that at least 27 people have died in the flames from the various fires that have engulfed entire neighborhoods.
It all began with Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires all setting alight on the first day. Since then, the Palisades Fire has burned through 23,713 acres, but the state has started to get the blaze somewhat under control with it now being 56 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
Meanwhile, Eaton Fire, which is the only other active wildfire, has scorched through 14,021 acres of land but is now 81 percent contained.