Adrian Portelli at the Gold Coast mansion he is giving away
THE Block’s controversial bidder Adrian “Lambo Guy” Portelli is giving up his Gold Coast dream home after losing out on Omar and Oz’s record-breaking house during the sensational series finale.
Mr Portelli, 33, revealed the waterfront Qld mansion he purchased for $2.3 million would replace The Block house as the next prize on offer through his promotions company, LMCT+.
“We didn’t win The Block house to give away so we’ve found a replacement,” he said.
The Melbourne-based entrepreneur known for his penchant for flash cars and charity work engaged in a bidding war during the finale for Omar Slaimankhel and Ozman Abu Malik’s home, which sold to Danny Wallis for a record $5.6m.
A scene from the finale’s controversial auction Picture: Channel 9
Mr Portelli was accused by some viewers of being planted to drive up the price for the Victorian acreage property, with auctioneer Tom Panos fielding his first bid of $4.5m.
The staggering sale price saw The Block Tree Change winners walk away with $1.68m — the largest takings in the show’s history.
Mr Portelli said he had planned to keep his luxury Gold Coast property named ‘Asylo’ and purchased in August from international DJs, New World Sound.
“It’s a stunning house. It was never meant for a giveaway but here we are,” he said.
The 2021-built mansion in the exclusive gated community of Sanctuary Cove is finished in modern Mediterranean style, with sleek curves, hanging greenery, and timber and stone finishes, as well as a landscaped al fresco terrace and pool overlooking still waters.
The glamorous Sanctuary Cove property. Source: Supplied.
Water views and luxury interior finishes
MORE NEWS
Villa Casa is nation’s most popular house for sale
Behind the scenes mistakes at The Block auctions
The Block’s big winners
Mr Portelli has been an active recent player in the Coast property market. He owns another Hope Island property and said he was also building a house not far from the Sanctuary Cove pad.
“The Gold Coast is a great alternative to Melbourne to mix it up a little and to avoid the cold winters,” he said.
He also made an unconditional offer for a high-end Burleigh Heads home known as The Palms, but lost out to tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt and his wife, Bec, who splashed $4.305m for the property in September 2021.
Mr Portelli lost out on The Palms to Lleyton Hewitt
Marketing agent Ed Cherry, of Harcourts Coastal, confirmed Mr Portelli had inspected the newly built home with friend and fellow local car enthusiast, Troy Candy.
“He’s had a bit of a track record of being an under-bidder,” Mr Cherry said.
“We had an unconditional contract but unfortunately he lost out to Lleyton and Bec.
“Because of the relationship we had, and how honest and humble he was, I’ve got full confidence he was also buying [The Block house] as a prize home.”
Mr Portelli, dubbed Lambo Guy for the yellow Lamborghini he drove to The Block auction, said he had selected Omar and Oz’s house because its luxury finishes and features including a tennis court and golfing green were, “most relatable” to his audience.
Omar and Oz are the biggest Block winners ever.
“People thought I was a dummy bidder and mate of Omar and Oz [but] I was simply wanting to buy the four-bedroom house to give away through my business LMCT+, to give everyday Aussies the chance to win a house they’ve all become attached to over its renovation on The Block,” he said.
“It’s not my fault Danny let his ego get in the way and drove the price up to a point where it didn’t make sense to me, so I backed out.
“The other houses just weren’t appealing to me for its intended use.”
The post Adrian Portelli gives away Gold Coast mansion after The Block bidding war appeared first on realestate.com.au.