Block billionaire Adrian Portelli’s unrecognisable new look

Controversial Block mega-buyer Adrian Portelli has unveiled a near-unrecognisable new look – even his baby can’t recognise him.

Billionaire The Block mega-buyer Adrian Portelli has unveiled a brand new look – and he looks so different, it seems even his own son doesn’t recognise him.

The usually impeccably groomed businessman, who bowed out of The Block at last year’s season finale by buying every single house on offer at auction, has shaved off all of his hair – including his eyebrows.

Portelli revealed the new look in a post to Instagram this week, posing on top of one of his fleet of luxury cars, in front of a private jet.

Block billionaire Adrian Portelli's new look.

Portelli (at right) wasn’t the only one to break out the razor.

MORE: ‘Won’t be back’: Portelli’s shock Block admission

Other photos posted reveal Portelli wasn’t the only one who started 2025 with the extreme new look – he posed with two friends who were also bald and eyebrow-free.

But in a follow-up post, Portelli revealed that not everyone in his life is loving the new look.

“Mercy’s first reaction to skin head daddy! He wasn’t a fan but he eventually warmed up,” Portelli posted, alongside a couple of photos of his young son Mercy, apparently crying at the sight of his hair-free father.

Mercy’s not a fan …

, … but gradually warmed to the new look.

MORE: Experts slam Portelli: Block is a dud investment

The new look comes days after Portelli pulled off his biggest giveaway to date, giving one winner either $8 million in cash or all five properties he had purchased from The Block 2024 on Phillip Island.

After an earlier Boxing Day live stream was plagued by technical issues, the winner was eventually named several days later as a 34-year-old Ballarat resident named Holly.

Portelli launched the giveaway in November last year, after buying all five Block properties at auction for a total price of around $15 million.

Australian billionaire Adrian Portelli.

He insisted the auction day splurge would act as his swansong for the show, after a dramatic few years in which he’s overtaken fellow super-rich Block megabuyer Danny Wallis as the show’s most prolific customer.

Previous years have seen Portelli and Wallis, both known for their flashy antics, do battle with each other on auction day as other potential buyers are largely shut out by their wild bids.

Meanwhile, Portelli was last month charged by The South Australian Consumer and Business Services (CBS) over alleged unlawful conduct related to his business operations.

He faces nine charges for personally conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery. His company, Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, which operates under the brand LMCT+, has been charged with ten similar counts.

He’s due in court on January 15, but the legal woes haven’t seemed to phase him – Portelli threw a lavish penthouse party after he was charged last month.

Originally published as Block billionaire Adrian Portelli’s unrecognisable new look