In an astonishing twist of fate, an Australian family’s dream of winning a magnificent $4.2 million home has taken a nightmarish turn, leaving them furious and bewildered. The Griffin family, who clinched their dream residence featured on “The Block,” now find themselves entangled in a perplexing and costly ordeal.
Initially, the Griffin’s stroke of incredible luck seemed almost too good to be true. However, it wasn’t long before the dream turned into a living nightmare, all due to a man named Adrian ‘Lambo Guy’ Portelli.
Portelli, renowned for his extravagant lifestyle and luxury cars, purchased the Gisborne home, located 54 kilometers northwest of Melbourne, in November. He then offered it as the grand prize through his lottery company, LMCT+. The Griffin family from Ballarat, Victoria, emerged as the fortunate winners. Little did they know what lay ahead.
CCTV footage recently surfaced, revealing Portelli’s shocking removal of luxury items from the supposedly “fully-furnished” home. Items such as a robo-mower, treadmill, wine, Smeg appliances, and a BBQ smoker were among the casualties. The Griffins were understandably incensed by this sudden turn of events, estimating the value of these items at over $100,000.
As a result, they presented Portelli with a hefty bill, demanding compensation for these missing items, which also included candles and books. Their frustration escalated, prompting them to create a website titled ‘Our LMCT Nightmare’ as a final warning to Portelli if he fails to settle the matter.
The Griffins, plasterer Kevin and his wife Andrea, believed that the promotional videos for the lottery entitled them to everything they saw in the house. However, Portelli had a different perspective. He argued that these luxury extras were merely used for staging in the promotional videos and were not part of the giveaway’s terms and conditions.
A clash of perspectives between the Griffins and Portelli ensued, with the former feeling they had been wronged, and the latter branding them ungrateful. Portelli took to TikTok to publicly confront the Griffins, sharing a video where Ms. Griffin noticed the absence of a wine fridge, and the couple nitpicked the home’s condition.
To make matters more complicated, Portelli accused the Griffins of hacking into CCTV cameras left behind by Channel Nine’s production team. In doing so, they discovered the incriminating footage of him removing the missing items before their move-in date, further fueling their demands for reimbursement.
In response, the Griffins expressed their shock at the revelations. “We were just like, what the hell?” exclaimed Ms. Griffin to the Herald Sun. “Why has he done this?”
Portelli, determined to defend himself, countered by posting outtakes from the handover video, where the Griffins could be seen complaining as they received the keys to their dream home. This move stirred outrage, with some viewers criticizing the family for their reaction to winning the grand prize.
Portelli’s post received an influx of replies, with 1,700 people condemning the Griffins for their perceived ingratitude, given the enormity of the prize. The backlash brought Portelli further stress, as he revealed receiving abusive and threatening messages as a result of the video.
Unfortunately for Portelli, this ordeal comes at a time when his business, LMCT+, faces investigations in two states over alleged violations of gambling laws. South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services and the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission are both examining LMCT+ in response to complaints.
As this astonishing saga continues to unfold, the Griffins’ dream home, which once symbolized fortune, now stands as a testament to the bitter complexities of luck and luxury, leaving many to wonder if they will ever find the peace and resolution they seek.
