Spencer Pratt's Startling Admission About Mary-Kate Olsen Photos
Spencer Pratt has revealed a controversial chapter from his past in his new memoir, confessing to selling private photographs of a teenage Mary-Kate Olsen to the press for $50,000. The reality television star, now 42, details how he accessed the images through his friend Max Winkler, who briefly dated Olsen in the early 2000s.
The $50,000 Photo Deal That Funded a Brazilian Adventure
In The Guy You Loved to Hate: Confessions from a Reality TV Villain, which was published this week, Pratt explains his motivation was purely financial. He needed funds for an extended trip to Brazil, where he planned to compete in jiujitsu tournaments and shoot an independent film. Describing 2004 as "the golden age of tabloid voyeurism," Pratt writes that one exclusive story could finance his entire expedition.
"It was 2004, the golden age of tabloid voyeurism. One exclusive — 'Mary-Kate's Teen Romance!' — could fund my entire Brazilian expedition," Pratt recounts in his book. He admits that while he had never previously monetised his proximity to fame, desperate circumstances led to what he calls "desperate measures."
Access Through a Friend's "Photo Shrine"
The photographs in question came from Max Winkler, son of Happy Days actor Henry Winkler, who had dated Mary-Kate Olsen during their teenage years. Pratt describes discovering a "photo shrine to his ex" in Winkler's bedroom, a collection of images from their short-lived early-2000s relationship.
Pratt claims he asked Winkler for permission to take the photographs as part of his friend's "healing process" following the breakup. "He didn't say no, so I took that to be a yes," Pratt writes, acknowledging the ethical ambiguity of his actions.
"Each image was currency waiting to be converted," Pratt reflects in his memoir. "It was hard not to grin." The photographs showed Olsen partying in Hollywood during her teenage years, and Pratt ultimately sold them to a photo agency for $50,000.
Reflections on Celebrity Culture and Personal Growth
In his writing, Pratt offers a cynical perspective on the celebrity economy of the mid-2000s. "Here I was, twenty years old, turning my buddy's romantic misery into startup capital," he writes. "Who knew heartbreak could be such a growth industry?"
He further rationalises his actions by suggesting multiple parties benefited. "America was starving for celebrity intimacy, and I had access to the kitchen," Pratt continues. "When you really think about it, it was a win-win. Mary-Kate got her rebel rebrand, Max got closure. And soon, cinema would get my masterpiece," he adds, referring to his Brazilian film project.
From Reality Star to Political Aspirant
The admission comes as Pratt, alongside his wife Heidi Montag, 39, has recently announced a bid for Los Angeles mayor. The couple lost their Pacific Palisades home in the devastating 2025 California wildfires, an experience that Pratt says motivated his political ambitions.
"Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I'm done waiting for someone to take real action. That's why I am running for mayor," Pratt declared recently. He describes his campaign as "a mission" to "expose the system" and "disinfect this city with our light."
Pratt and Montag rose to fame through six seasons of MTV's The Hills, leaving the show in 2010. They have since appeared on numerous reality programmes including Celebrity Big Brother U.K., I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, and The Hills: New Beginnings. The couple married in 2008, held a televised ceremony in 2009, and have two sons named Gunner and Ryker.
The Independent has contacted representatives for Mary-Kate Olsen for comment regarding Pratt's revelations. The photographs in question were taken when Olsen was a teenager, adding another layer to the ethical considerations surrounding their sale to the press.
