Adrian ‘Mr Lambo’ Portelli bids farewell 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 that he might be departing from the show for good.

Portelli, 35, shared a cryptic caption with his followers, stating, ‘It’s time to say goodbye to The Block and this Dummy Bidder is going out with a f**kng Bang!’

The entrepreneur’s post immediately ignited 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 if Portelli’s days as The Block’s most controversial buyer are numbered. 

On Saturday, the rich lister arrived at The Block’s Phillip Island site for the much-anticipated auction day.

The reality show’s cast and crew mingled with potential buyers of this season’s five new holiday homes, adding to the excitement on-site.

Portelli, with his usual confidence, appeared to be in a celebratory mood—at one point embracing 2024 contestants Maddy and Charlotte, who recently stepped in as contestants following the departure of Jessie and Paige.

While it is unclear who secured his bid, Adrian looked chuffed with his purchases and flashed a huge smile while filming scenes for the Channel Nine show. 

At one moment, he was spotted celebrating with 2024 contestants Maddy and Charlotte as he happily embraced the reality renovators.

The sisters were a late addition to the series, moving in to take over work on House One after Jessie and Paige exited the show. 

The duo were also recently tipped as hot favourites by Block foreman Dan Riley and his wife Dani Wales.

It is not known whose property, or how many homes, Adrian snapped up at the auction. That and the series’ winner are set to be revealed in Sunday’s episode.

Recent Block season finales have essentially been a two-horse race, as Portelli and fellow multi-millionaire businessman Danny Wallis fought to out bid each other over several properties.

Between them, the cashed up pair have purchased 15 Block properties in recent years.

In 2023, Wallis went home with nothing as Portelli snapped up three of the houses for a total of $12.4million. That included Steph and Gian’s home, which he bought for $5m, although it had a $3.35m reserve. 

Portelli’s departure from The Block could spell and end to the record-breaking profits he has raked in for contestants, including Steph and Gian, who walked away with 1.65million from their sale and an additional $100,000 in prize money.

Maddy, 24, dressed to impress as she oozed sophistication in a light blue suit. 

Her teammate Charlotte, 22, looked elegant in a sleeveless, light pink gown as she brought the glamour to the final day of filming.

While it was unclear if Adrian had put a winning bid on the sisters’ pad that would make them millionaires too, the mood definitely seemed celebratory as the trio happily chatted.

 Adrian even heartily embraced Maddy at one point, suggesting a connection.

‘Mr Lambo’ tipped to make The Block history

Portelli, estimated to be worth $1.03 billion, has already made waves in past seasons of The Block, where he’s been known to outbid rivals in dramatic style.

In 2022, he made headlines with his $4.5 million bid on Omar and Oz’s home, arriving in his signature yellow Lamborghini.

Although he lost out to fellow bidder Danny Wallis, he returned in 2023, successfully buying three properties for a total of $12.4 million.

Since then, his company, LMCT+, has turned these high-profile purchases into lucrative raffle prizes, drawing national attention.

Rumours had been circulating this season that Portelli was looking to achieve the unprecedented – buying all five Phillip Island homes in a single swoop.

A source told Daily Mail Australia in September, ‘Adrian has his sights set on every single property. He’s been in talks with producers and is confident he can pull it off.’

If Portelli succeeds, he would make The Block history, becoming the first person to buy out an entire season’s listings.

A source exclusively told Daily Mail Australia in September that the entrepreneur was planning to purchase all five of the Phillip Island homes at this year’s auction – a first in the show’s long-running history. 

‘The word is Adrian Portelli has his sights set on buying every single property,’ the insider disclosed.

Adrian, who became a household name after his high-profile purchases on previous seasons, is no stranger to turning Block homes into major publicity stunts.

He first raised eyebrows in 2022, arriving at Omar and Oz’s auction in a yellow Lamborghini, which earned him the nickname Mr Lambo.