Reality TV stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt's divorce proceedings were planned to win them a new show.
The couple staged the break-up after learning their current show, The Hills, would not be picked up for another series, and Pratt admits the split was designed to create fresh interest in his wife for a potential British TV project.
He tells Life & Style magazine, "The divorce was real - just the idea behind it was different than most people’s.
"Divorcing was the only way to keep Heidi’s career going because everyone hated me so much. Look at Sandra Bullock - her divorce from Jesse James was the best thing to happen to her image."
The British TV deal fell through and the couple called off the divorce proceedings and reunited.
Now, facing bankruptcy after blowing through a $10 million (GBP6.6 million) fortune, Pratt admits he's worried about the couple's future.
He adds, "I can’t make regular money because I was playing such an unlikeable character on TV to keep my cheques coming. Who wants to hire the jerk from The Hills?"