Once a successful reality TV star with a wife, eight kids and a full bank account, Jon Gosselin’s fortune has dwindled away so severely that he could even face prison time, the new issue of Star magazine reveals.

“I can’t afford to pay my rent and the domestic-relations staff tell me they will put me in jail unless I pay child support,” Jon, 35, told Star in an exclusive interview. “I am a single father who’s trying to make ends meet during a recession. What do I do — pay child support or rent? I need to support my kids, but I could lose my house, and I need my home to continue to have custody.

“I decided to take the high road and quit reality television and now look, I’m going to end up in jail because I can’t afford to pay child support to Kate who has plenty of money, ” the former TLC star complained.

“I’m doing the best I can, but life is so expensive with eight kids!”

Jon and Kate Gosselin spent five seasons on TLC documenting their lives with their eight children, twins, Cara, Madelyn along with a set of sextuplets, Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel, and after a very public divorce in 2009, Kate went on to film Kate Plus 8 with the children while Jon started life over again in rural Pennsylvania.

But keeping a good job has been a difficult challenge after reality TV because the unemployed dad says people still recognize him from the show.

While 37-year-old Kate is keen to stay in the spotlight with a new dating show that will see her traveling around the country looking for Mr. Right, Jon doesn’t support her new career aspirations.

“I think this is completely ridiculous! We have eight children and they need us, she is putting reality TV and dating in front of the kids who need to have their mother,” he told Star.

“Why not date the old fashioned way?” asked Jon, who has found love with mother-of-three, Liz Jannetta. “I know I have a lot to be thankful for, but Kate’s need to be famous is not one of them.”

For the full story, the new issue of Star magazine is on newsstands Thursday.

Elite.