The latest season of The Block ended with a bang as Maddy and Charlotte emerged victorious, pulling off a massive profit on their auction day. But now, after a surprising interview on HIT WA‘s Allan & Carly, billionaire buyer Adrian Portelli has revealed that he might have had a hand in guaranteeing the win for the duo—fueling speculation among fans that the show might be “rigged.”
Portelli, who bought all five houses in the finale, didn’t hold back when he admitted to telling Maddy and Charlotte to “go #5” in the auction order so he could “guarantee [them] the win.” Even though he’s spent millions on the properties, he surprisingly revealed, “I don’t actually watch the show!” Instead, Portelli credits his partner as the superfan and says her influence played a role in the decision.
When asked why he chose Maddy and Charlotte’s house as the top buy, Portelli praised the duo’s journey. They joined the show mid-season after contestants Jesse and Paige quit early, and according to Portelli, they faced a tougher road than others. “The girls deserved it,” he told Allan & Carly, noting that they faced alleged bullying and “unAustralian” behaviour from some contestants. His partner, a fan of the season, had one directive: “Make sure they win!”
The billionaire even admitted there was significant planning behind their win, saying, “For around six weeks, me and the girls had a good chat,” he shared with the radio show after the finale aired. “I just said, ‘Go in order #5 so I can guarantee you girls the win,’” making sure they knew they’d have a buyer waiting if they could secure the fifth auction spot.
But while this year’s auction marked an epic end to Portelli’s run on The Block, he’s not slowing down his property ambitions just yet. Declaring this his “last auction,” Portelli announced he’s “going out with a bang,” taking to Instagram to tease his next move with The Block houses. In a bold move that’s sure to excite fans, he’s decided to host a massive giveaway event and here’s the kicker: Portelli plans to offer all five The Block houses to one lucky winner, with a jaw-dropping choice to take over the whole property “resort” or opt for an $8 million cash prize.
“Let’s give away a fkn resort!!!” he wrote on Instagram, amping up his followers. “One giveaway—one prize. Winner takes the whole resort OR $8,000,000 instant tax-free cash. Let the games begin!”
Portelli’s confession has sparked a debate among The Block‘s fanbase. With his influence, he essentially controlled the outcome of the season, turning what was meant to be a fair bidding war into a seemingly orchestrated outcome. Some fans are questioning whether the show should allow external figures like Portelli to have such sway over the results.
“I knew there was something fishy about this season,” one fan posted on a The Block Facebook group. Others have raised questions about transparency, wondering if the producers knew about Portelli’s influence or encouraged his involvement to boost the show’s profile.
But, it appears Portelli isn’t fussed by fan theories, telling fans he was “allowed” to do what he wants at public auctions.
“I am sick of talking about it and I’m sure you’re sick of listening about it …” Portelli began a video on Instagram.
“I never once said The Block was rigged, those words never came out of my mouth. Yes, The Block is a TV series, however, once it gets to an auction it’s a public auction, and anyone from all over Australia can come and bid on these auctions, so it’s no longer in the hands of producers, the network or contestants.”
“Whatever happens, happens. If I want to bid $100 million on a property worth $2 million, I’m allowed to,” he continued.
“So suck it up and stop having a sook. It was my decision. I made the girls win. It was the best house and best contestants. And that’s a wrap.”
The controversy isn’t limited to the auction finale though – Fans have long speculated that judging in The Block might be impacted by contestant interactions and biases. On social media, viewers have suggested a “blind” judging approach, where judges evaluate rooms without knowing who designed them. Many feel that this change could eliminate bias and give each team a fairer shot.
One viewer shared, “Judging without knowing who did the rooms would be so much fairer,” while another chimed in, “I think they should go in individually and score before discussing. When they get together, they tend to feed off each other.”
Despite the mixed reactions, one thing is certain: The Block continues to captivate and divide its audience. While producers have yet to comment on the Portelli revelations, fans are already pushing for changes to the show’s auction and judging processes. Whether The Block will take fan feedback on board remains to be seen, but with Portelli hinting that he might have a TV show of his own on the horizon, viewers might be in for even more real estate drama.
