The rise and fall of Speidi: Heidi and Spencer claim they're broke, homeless now
It wasn't that long ago that Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt were genuinely famous. If not A-list, then B-list enough to earn a combined couple name. Speidi, as they became known a little over three years ago, were living large as tabloid-friendly reality stars, churning out drama in time for the close of every weekly magazine.
At the height of their self-designed (un)popularity, writer Kate Aurthur, profiled them for the L.A. Times. Three years later she caught up with them again for the Daily Beast. Boy oh boy, things have changed. They're homeless, out of work and what's worse, nobody even hates them anymore. Here's a look at Speidi then and now...
In 2008
Ages: Pratt was 24, Montag was 21
Home: They were house-hunting for multi-million Malibu homes (and inviting paparazzi to join on their hunt)
Work: Montag had launched her own line of clothing, Heidiwood, and was recording her first studio album, Superficial. She told Aurthur in the L.A. Times article, "I want to be as big as Britney Spears and Madonna." Pratt was developing various TV projects including a "Hills" spin-off and a UFC reality show, in addition to appearing with Montag on "The Hills" and various other MTV specials.
Surgery: Heidi had two surgeries: rhinoplasty and breast augmentation
Paychecks: Their going rate for a few hours of work was reportedly around $50,000 for club appearances, and $3000 for photo shoots.
Cultural Relevance: On the cover of tabloids almost weekly, Speidi's fame even overlapped election coverage when they were photographed on different occasions with McCain's daughter, endorsingSarah Palin via t-shirts and a shotgun, and hitting the voting poles holding American flags. That same year, they were even invited to the White House Correspondents Dinner.
2011
Age: Pratt is 27, Montag is 24
Home: They're living at Pratt's parents' house in Santa Barbara, so they don't have to pay rent.
Work: They claim they're flat broke. Montag is riding out the last episodes of VH1's celebreality ratings-bomb "Famous Food." Pratt is thoroughly unemployed. Barred from MTV, E! and probably NBC (after his fued with Al Roker), he says his reputation has hindered his job search. Now he's considering finishing his college degree, but he's also game to do more guest appearances on reality shows, if you're offering.
Surgery: Montag has since had 10 more surgeries (all in one day), which she now says she regrets.
Paycheck: They claim to have squandered away $3 million on Heidi's failed singing career and various impulse buys from pricey suits and cars to, undoubtedly, crystals. As of last year, they could only garner $300 for a photoshoot, as opposed to $3000. Club appearances have mostly dried out, and they can't pull in the money they used to. Their last ditch effort was to claim they were divorcing, in hopes of selling their story to the tabloids. They now admit that was all a lie. "At that point, we were pulling our last cards," Spencer told the Beast. "We felt the hot-air balloon losing its gas. And at that stage, our income would be selling the photo that would go along with the divorce."
Cultural Relevance: Forget the tabloids, the last time Pratt made headlines even on a gossip blog, it was in June for selling his blue truck on ebay. "Reality TV is not a career," says the risen and fallen Spencer in 2011. "Anyone who says, 'Oh, you can have a career in reality'-that is a lie." But like the divorce and the surgeries, Speidi have thrived on "throwing themselves under the bus," as they say in realityland. This down-and-out routine may be just another narrative turn in the play they live to write.
Related links:
Montag's new reality show: not restaurant material
Heidi's 14-hour-a-day workout regimen
Heidi Montag: plastic surgery addict
The end for Heidi and Spencer?
