Spencer and Heidi. Speidi. The names alone probably trigger a 2000s flashback of crystal-encrusted energy and The Hills drama. But in 2025, things got incredibly real for them in a way that had nothing to do with reality TV scripts or fake feuds with Lauren Conrad.
A massive wildfire ripped through the Pacific Palisades. It wasn't just a "celebrity evacuation" headline this time. Their house—the one where they were raising their two sons, Gunner and Ryker—burned completely to the ground.
Then came the GoFundMe.
The GoFundMe Spencer and Heidi Backlash Explained
Most people see the word "celebrity" and think "bottomless bank account." So, when a GoFundMe for Spencer and Heidi Pratt popped up with a goal of $100,000 (later raised to $150,000), the internet did what the internet does. It exploded.
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People were livid. Why were "rich" people asking for handouts?
Honestly, Spencer was pretty blunt about it. He went on TikTok—his main hustle these days—and basically told everyone that the "rich celebrity" narrative is a myth for them. He pointed out that if you Google his net worth, it’s been listed at $1,000 for years. They aren't living off a massive MTV pension.
They lost everything.
Spencer watched his house burn down on his security cameras in real time. He claimed the fire trucks never showed up because the gates were locked or the fire was just moving too fast. Imagine sitting on your phone, watching your kids' bedrooms turn into ash while you're miles away. It’s haunting.
The GoFundMe wasn't actually started by them, either. A close friend named Brandon Johns set it up. But Spencer and Heidi eventually leaned into it because, as they put it, they were starting at zero. No clothes, no toys for the kids, no kitchen supplies. Just the stuff they threw in their car in those frantic 20 minutes before the flames hit.
The Truth About the "Speidi" Fortune
We’ve all heard the stories of them blowing through $10 million in their early twenties. They’ve admitted it! They spent $30,000 on flowers, thousands on crystals, and bought every new BMW that hit the lot.
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By the time the 2025 fire happened, they were working for every dollar. Spencer is a master of the TikTok Live "gift" economy. He makes thousands of dollars a week just by being entertaining and selling his Pratt Daddy crystals.
When the fire hit, that income stream was threatened. He couldn't get to his office. He couldn't ship crystals.
Why Didn’t Insurance Cover It?
This is the big question everyone asked. "Just use the insurance money!"
It’s not that simple in California anymore. Private insurance companies have been fleeing the state because of wildfire risks. Many people in the Palisades, including the Pratts, were forced onto the California FAIR Plan.
- It has massive deductibles (sometimes $75,000 or more).
- It often only covers about 70% of the home's value.
- It doesn't always cover the full cost of "contents" or the massive surge in construction costs.
Basically, having insurance doesn't mean you get a check that makes you whole the next day. It means you’re stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare for years while trying to figure out where your kids are going to sleep next week.
Defending Mandy Moore and the "Celebrity Struggle"
Interestingly, Spencer wasn't just defending himself. He jumped to the defense of Mandy Moore, who also faced heat for sharing a GoFundMe for her family members who lost their home.
"She's a real one," Spencer said in one of his rants. He argued that just because someone is famous doesn't mean they are obligated to pay for everyone else's life. It’s a weird double standard. We expect celebrities to be perfect, but when they ask for help or show vulnerability, we call them grifters.
Heidi was equally emotional. She posted about having "two pairs of jeans and two shirts" left to her name. For a woman who once spent $2 million self-funding a pop album (Superficial), that’s a massive fall from the lifestyle she once knew.
But here’s the thing: they survived. And they’re rebuilding.
By early 2026, Spencer even announced he was running for Mayor of Los Angeles. Talk about a pivot. He’s using the trauma of the fire to push for better fire prevention and emergency response. Whether you love him or hate him, you can’t say the guy doesn't know how to stay in the conversation.
Actionable Takeaways from the Speidi Fire Saga
If you’re watching this from the outside, there are actually a few "regular person" lessons to take away from this celebrity mess:
- Check your "Loss of Use" coverage. If your house burns, your insurance should pay for you to live in a rental. Make sure that limit is high enough for your area.
- Digitize your memories. Spencer talked about losing every physical photo and memory. Use a cloud service. Don't leave the only copy of your wedding video on a hard drive in a drawer.
- Understand the FAIR Plan. If you live in a high-risk area, don't assume you're fully covered. Talk to a broker about "difference in conditions" (DIC) insurance to fill the gaps.
- The "Net Worth" trap. Don't believe everything you read on celebrity net worth sites. Most of it is total guesswork. People can look rich on Instagram and be one paycheck away from a crisis.
Spencer and Heidi are still "hustling," as Spencer puts it. They aren't asking for pity anymore, but they aren't apologizing for the help they got either. In the end, they used the GoFundMe Spencer and Heidi funds to put clothes on their kids' backs and start a very long, very public journey back to some kind of normal.
Keep an eye on that mayoral race. If Spencer Pratt can go from a GoFundMe to City Hall, it’ll be the wildest "Hills" episode yet.
Protect your own assets by conducting a home inventory today. Walk through your house with a camera and record everything you own. Upload it to the cloud immediately. You never think you'll need it until the sky turns orange.