The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli boasts about his notoriety and lavish lifestyle in ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ video
It has certainly been a big year for Adrian Portelli, who was never far from the headlines in 2024.
And the 35-year-old The Block billionaire has now taken to Instagram to share a video montage of his ‘controversial’ year.
The post, which was tailored to the influences of ’90s Coolio hit Gangsta’s Paradise, opened with a series of TV news reports mentioning Portelli.
The reports referred to charges filed against him earlier this month over the conduct of his private lottery company LMCT+.
The sobering images were then juxtaposed with photos of Portelli, who has an estimated net worth of more than $1 billion, enjoying his very lavish lifestyle.
In scenes reminiscent of a rap video, Portelli was also seen popping bottles and hosting lavish parties.
It’s certainly been a big year for Adrian Portelli and the Block billionaire has taken to Instagram to share a video montage of his ‘controversial’ year that
His penchant for the finer things in life was also made abundantly clear, as Portelli jumped from private jet to supercars and luxury yachts.
In the caption of the boastful post, Portelli revealed he had hit back at his critics.
“The more you win, the more people will want to take a chance,” he wrote. ‘I say: bring it on in 2024.’
The post received a flood of comments from followers, with many praising Portelli’s success.
“Haha, it’s been incredible to see you these past 15 months! Well done,” one follower wrote.
Another compared the scenes to something from the popular video game franchise Grand Theft Auto.
“Bro, this looks like the end scene credits for when you successfully complete everything on GTA. Damn movie, bro,” they exclaimed.
Another fan suggested that much of the controversy surrounding Portelli was due to jealousy.
The montage, which was timed to the tensions of ’90s Coolio hit Gangster’s Paradise, opened with a series of TV news reports mentioning Portelli.
The sobering images were then juxtaposed with images of Portelli enjoying his very lavish lifestyle
‘In the end it comes down to jealousy! Half of these people wouldn’t know the meaning of hard work,” the fan wrote.
‘You give back so much that they don’t highlight the good things. While Australia is the happy country, it is certainly a country that just doesn’t like to see people succeed.
“Keep breaking the pattern, Adrian, I have so much respect for you.”
It has certainly been a red year for Portelli – for better or for worse.
Others were quick to praise Portelli for the fact that his son Mercy, 11 months, never seemed far from his side.
“I love that you always have your son with you,” one fan wrote. ‘Shows your true family character. We face a great 2025.”
In November, the man called ‘Mr Lambo’ bought all five renovated properties from the 20th season of The Block.
He dropped a record $15.3 million to secure the Phillip Island properties, which his company LMCT+ later raffled off.
In scenes reminiscent of a rap video, Portelli was seen popping bottles and hosting lavish parties
His penchant for the finer things in life was also made abundantly clear, as Portelli jumped from private jet to luxury supercars and yachts.
The post received a flood of comments from followers, with many praising Portelli’s success
He announced the lucky winner of the huge giveaway last week, after it was previously marred by technological glitches that forced him to delay the announcement.
Earlier this month, Portelli also gave away $150,000 worth of Coles vouchers to 1000 Sydneysiders.
He also signaled some big steps in 2025, unveiling plans to build a new hospital in the Western Sydney town of Penrith earlier this month.
He said the hospital is being built for “patients with high physical needs” because there is a “shortage” of medical care in the area for those in need.
Meanwhile, Portelli made headlines earlier this month after he was sued over the conduct of his private lottery company LMCT+.
South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services launched an investigation into the Melbourne businessman’s lottery operations in September last year.
Just one day after the Coles giveaway, the SA government department confirmed it was prosecuting Mr Portelli and Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, trading as LMCT+.
Portelli personally faces nine counts of conducting/aiding the operation of an unlawful lottery, and the company faces 10 counts of the same charge, the courts confirmed.
“Bro, this looks like the credits for the ending scene when you successfully complete everything on GTA,” one fan exclaimed, in reverence to the popular video game franchise Grand Theft Auto
“You give back so much that they don’t highlight the good stuff,” another fan wrote. “Australia may be the happy country, but it is certainly a country that doesn’t like to see people succeed.”
If convicted of all charges, he could face a maximum fine of $190,000. The case is scheduled to make its first appearance in the South Australian Magistrates Court on January 15.
He has been accused by gambling advocates of preying on low-income Aussies, who pay up to $100 a month for lottery draws.
But the company says it’s simply a “membership rewards service” that generates millions of dollars for local businesses.
It has more than 300,000 customers who pay subscription fees, with options ranging from $20 to $100 per month.
Subscribers get discounts from partners like Amazon, Temple & Webster and Elite Supplements – although the website only releases the details to people who sign up.
The main attraction is the company’s monthly lottery drawings for cash, cars and houses. In the last drawing, on November 24, $1 million went to one subscriber.