Adrian ‘Mr Lambo’ Portelli is saying goodbye to The Block with a bang – but is he really saying goodbye?
The Block’s controversial bidder, Adrian ‘Mr Lambo’ Portelli, has sparked a wave of speculation by hinting he may be leaving the show for good.
Portelli, 35, shared a cryptic caption with his followers, which read: ‘It’s time to say goodbye to The Block and this Dummy Bidder is dating f**kng Bang!’
The entrepreneur’s post immediately sparked speculation among fans, with one follower asking: ‘Goodbye to The Block? Is this your last season as a bidder?’
The ambiguous message left many wondering whether Portelli’s days as The Block’s most controversial buyer are numbered.
On Saturday, the rich thrush arrived at The Block’s Phillip Island location for the much-awaited auction day.
The reality show’s cast and crew mingled with potential buyers of this season’s five new vacation homes, adding to the excitement on site.
Portelli, with his usual confidence, seemed to be in a celebratory mood – at one point hugging 2024 contestants Maddy and Charlotte, who recently stepped up as contestants following Jessie and Paige’s departure.
Although it is unclear who secured his bid, Adrian seemed delighted with his purchases and flashed a big smile while filming scenes for the Channel Nine show.
Controversial bidder of The Block, Adrian ‘Mr Lambo’ Portelli, has sparked a wave of speculation after hinting he would be leaving the show for good
Portelli, 35, shared a cryptic caption with his followers, which read: ‘It’s time to say goodbye to The Block and this Dummy Bidder is dating f**kng Bang!’. Pictured with son Mercy
At one point he was spotted celebrating with 2024 contestants Maddy and Charlotte as he happily hugged the reality renovators.
The sisters were a late addition to the series, moving here to take over work on House One after Jessie and Paige left the show.
The duo were also recently tipped as firm favorites by Block frontman Dan Riley and his wife Dani Wales.
It is not known whose property, or how many houses, Adrian purchased at the auction. That and the winner of the series will be revealed in Sunday’s episode.
The ambiguous message left many wondering whether Portelli’s days as The Block’s most controversial buyer are numbered
Portelli was in a jovial mood on Saturday as he arrived at the reality show’s much-anticipated auction
Block’s recent season finales were essentially a two-horse race, as Portelli and fellow multi-millionaire businessman Danny Wallis battled to outdo each other on various properties.
Together, the cashed-up pair have purchased 15 Block properties in recent years.
In 2023, Wallis went home with nothing when Portelli picked up three of the houses for a total of $12.4 million. That included Steph and Gian’s house, which he bought for $5 million even though it had a $3.35 million reserve in it.
Portelli’s departure from The Block could put an end to the record winnings he has raked in for contestants including Steph and Gian, who walked away with $1.65 million from their sales and another $100,000 in prize money.
He was spotted celebrating with 2024 contestants Maddy and Charlotte, as the auction enthusiast happily hugged the reality renovators
Maddy, 24, dressed to impress as she oozed sophistication in a light blue suit.
Her teammate Charlotte, 22, looked elegant in a sleeveless pale pink dress as she brought the glamor to the final day of filming.
While it was unclear whether Adrian had placed a winning bid the sisters’ way that would also make them millionaires, the mood seemed decidedly festive as the trio chatted happily.
Adrian even warmly hugged Maddy at one point, suggesting a connection.
It is not known whose property or how many houses Adrian secured at auction. The winner will be revealed in Sunday night’s episode.
For auction day, Maddy, 24, dressed to impress as she oozed sophistication in a light blue suit
Her teammate Charlotte, 22, looked elegant in a sleeveless pale pink dress as she brought the glamor to the final day of filming
‘Mr Lambo’ tipped to write The Block history
Portelli, who is worth an estimated $1.03 billion, has already made waves in recent seasons of The Block, where he is known for dramatically outbidding his rivals.
In 2022, he made headlines with his $4.5 million bid on Omar and Oz’s house, arriving in his signature yellow Lamborghini.
Although he lost to fellow bidder Danny Wallis, he returned in 2023 and successfully purchased three properties for a total of $12.4 million.
Since then, his company, LMCT+, has turned these high-profile purchases into lucrative lottery prizes, attracting national attention.
This season, rumors circulated that Portelli wanted to do the unprecedented: buy all five Phillip Island houses in one fell swoop.
A source told Daily Mail Australia in September: ‘Adrian has his sights set on every single property. He has had discussions with producers and is confident that he will succeed.’
If Portelli succeeds, he would make history for The Block and become the first person to buy out an entire season’s worth of listings.
A source exclusively told Daily Mail Australia in September that the entrepreneur planned to buy all five Phillip Island homes at this year’s auction – a first in the show’s long-running history.
“Rumor has it that Adrian Portelli has his sights set on buying every single property,” the insider revealed.
Adrian, who became a household name after his high-profile purchases in previous seasons, is no stranger to turning Block homes into major publicity stunts.
He first raised eyebrows in 2022 when he arrived at Omar and Oz’s auction in a yellow Lamborghini, earning him the nickname Mr Lambo.
While it was unclear whether Adrian had made a bid for the sisters’ path, the mood seemed decidedly festive as the trio chatted happily.
Maddy and Charlotte were recently tipped as big favorites by Block frontman Dan Riley and his wife Dani Wales
Adrian first raised eyebrows in 2022 when he arrived at Omar and Oz’s auction in a yellow Lamborghini, earning him the nickname Mr Lambo.
