Reality TV star Spencer Pratt has insisted he wouldn't be on social media sharing his personal struggles following the loss of his home in the Los Angeles wildfires if he was rich

Spencer told People about their battle to survive in the wake of the infernos: "If we were rich, I wouldn't be on an app.

"I'd be buying a new house and starting to order things. So, I don't think we would've shared anything vulnerable.

"(Social media) is how we already made money before. That's our way of life. "Heidi and I have been Snapchatting every day probably for eight years, our whole life.

"So, especially when your house and everything's gone, you're not going to be like, 'Oh, I'm going to stop doing the one thing that pays us.'"

Spencer last week revealed to Variety he earned a "life-changing" amount of money on TikTok after documenting their experience in the wildfires.

He added: "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."

Spencer and Heidi also benefited from a GoFundMe campaign set up by TikTok friends, which raised more than $134,000.

While some social media users criticised the fundraiser, Spencer defended it in a chat with Us Weekly, saying: "We're not rich, and no one is required to give money to us. It's not a tax."

Spencer has also used the platform to promote his wife's 2010 pop album 'Superficial'.

Her single 'I'll Do It' even reached number one on iTunes US, boosted by support from famous faces including Paris Hilton and Emily Ratajkowski.

Despite the backlash, Spencer expressed gratitude to his fans, adding: "I'm being optimistic because truly, it's the only way to get through all this."