High-flying billionaire Adrian Portelli has made a stunning announcement, offering a massive $1 million in prize money for the winners of Channel Seven's new renovation competition, My Reno Rules. The controversial 37-year-old entrepreneur, a major sponsor of the series, revealed this dramatic increase during a trailer for Wednesday's episode, leaving the cast in shock and delight.
Dramatic Prize Increase Announced
During Tuesday's premiere episode, Portelli had initially stated that the winners would receive a $100,000 cash prize. However, in a new trailer released ahead of Wednesday's broadcast, he declared he was 'upping the ante,' with first place now competing for $1 million. As an added incentive, he also announced a $250,000 prize for the runner-up.
Host Dr Chris Brown appeared genuinely surprised by Portelli's generosity, telling contestants, 'I did not know [about] this.' The show, which debuted on Tuesday, features four teams renovating two rundown properties in Melbourne, positioned as a rival to Channel Nine's long-running hit, The Block.
Show Details and Production Challenges
My Reno Rules involves transforming two luxury multi-level properties with views of Melbourne's skyline, which Portelli will give away upon completion. The judges include design expert Neale Whitaker, Simon Cohen of real estate agency Cohen Handler, and interior stylist Julia Green.
Despite months of teasers and Portelli's heavy promotion on social media, where he is known as 'Mr Lambo,' the show faced a disappointing start in the ratings. On Tuesday night, it scored an average national audience of 638,000 viewers, significantly behind Nine's Travel Guides, which premiered its seventh season to 1,025,000 viewers.
Behind-the-Scenes Issues
The show's production has been troubled, making headlines last year when a builder walked off the set just weeks after the series was announced. Originally scheduled to begin filming on September 26, shooting started over seven weeks late. An insider clarified that earlier reports about the homes not being 'TV-ready' were false, stating the real issue was finding a new builder.
Property records show Portelli purchased two suburban homes in Bulleen, Melbourne, for $2.7 million through his company Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, which were donated to the show. A spokesperson for Portelli and Seven confirmed that construction would start later in 2025, with ongoing discussions with builders during pre-production.
