Adrian Portelli’s silent return to The Block auctions revealed

He may be gone but Adrian Portelli is certainly not forgotten.

The flamboyant billionaire, who retired his paddle last year after snapping up all five houses on Phillip Island for $15 million, sent a proxy to this year’s Daylesford auction so that he could follow the action discreetly via the phone.

Recruited to be part of Channel 7’s rival real estate show, My Reno Rules – alongside another former Block stalwart, Neale Whitaker – this year’s contestants lamented Portelli’s absence.

Upon hearing that Portelli was keeping an eye on the auction, Emma and Ben had held out hope that he might have been the “ace up our sleeves”.

Unfortunately, Portelli was neither seen nor heard in the auction room, failing to place a single bid.

“For three years, he’s just inflated prices and set that expectation too high,” a devastated Ben said after their house passed in.

“This is real estate. This is the reality of it.”

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Adrian Portelli retired his paddle last year after snapping up all five houses on Phillip Island for $15 million. Picture: Channel 9

Host Scott Cam downplayed the impact of Portelli abstaining from bidding this year, noting “We went nearly half a million bucks over reserve without Adrian Portelli.”

Cam denied any suggestion that Portelli had been asked not to return to The Block after viewers complained last year’s results were “rigged” by his cash splashing antics. Cam said it was Portelli’s decision to bow out when he did.

And while Cam is still eager to see more Block houses end up with families rather than eccentric millionaires, the production is happy for the likes of Portelli and Danny Wallis to be involved.

“We were happy for Adrian to buy a house [this year], for sure,” Cam said.

“But I mean, if truth be told, we were hoping he wouldn’t buy five houses. We were happy for Danny to buy one. We’re happy for Adrian to buy one.”

Scott Cam denied any suggestion that Portelli had been asked not to return to The Block. Picture: Instagram/adrian_portelli

It wasn’t just Portelli’s absence that had impacted sales. Cam said other factors – including the inflated reserve prices — contributed to the mixed bag of results.

“I mean, it’s a regional town as well,” Cam explained.

“Last year, you’ve got to remember, with Adrian was a very unusual situation,” he said.

“You know that that’s not going to happen every year. He went [almost] 2$ million over reserve. And he just wanted to do a promotional thing. It was unrealistic. Today was more realistic of what mums and dads are going through on weekends when they’re selling their homes. Some are successful, and some not so much.”

Cam didn’t believe the record-breaking 2024 sales had set the bar too high for future seasons.

“I think the contestants were aware that was an unusual, unrealistic time last year, and we’ve told them that,” he shrugged.

“And in years gone past, to win half a million bucks on The Block, everyone would be happy as Larry, and that’s exactly what’s happened today.”

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