A millionaire property investor has sparked a storm after stopping Melbourne traffic to crane a $2 million sports car into his $39 million penthouse apartment.
Car enthusiast and online promotions guru Adrian Portelli – and sometimes high-profile bidder on the Nine Network’s The Block – filmed the jaw-dropping crane lift on Wednesday.
He described as “absolutely surreal” the moment his $2 million McLaren Senna GTR arrived 57 floors up at his apartment in the Sapphire by the Gardens tower in the Melbourne CBD.
The penthouse, which is still unfinished, set a Melbourne record when it sold in April. Despite that, Mr Portelli reportedly intends to use it only as a weekender.
After the penthouse purchase, he told the Seven Network of his plans to show off the McLaren in his living area.
“It’s a car that we can’t register, and it’s just collecting dust, so I might as well have it somewhere where it’s safe,” he said.
On Wednesday, that plan came a step closer.
“When I went to bed last night, I just giggled,” Mr Portelli wrote on Instagram on Thursday, on a post accompanied by shots of the pricey car lift.
“Young Portelli would be proud. The one nobody knew 10 years ago.”
But not everyone was as impressed. Greens leader Adam Bandt took to Twitter to express his anger.
“Labor’s giving this guy a $9000 tax cut while people starve on $52 a day,” Mr Bandt tweeted – in reference to next year’s stage three tax cuts and the budget delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday.
Tweet from @AdamBandt
The tax cuts, which come into effect in July 2024, will remove an entire tax bracket for incomes between $120,000 and $180,000 and slash taxes for those earning over $200,000.
Figures released by Anglicare Australia in March show those earning less than $45,000 will see no benefit, while 78 per cent of the lost government revenue will flow to the top 20 per cent of earners.
Despite growing opposition from its critics, Labor has consistently said it will retain the former government’s stage three tax cuts. Spruiking his budget on Wednesday, Dr Chalmers said they remained legislated to kick in from July 1, 2024.
Mr Portelli featured prominently in the most recent season of The Block, surprising audiences with a $4.5 million bid for one of the houses. He didn’t buy the house, and – according to a report by Nine – hit back at critics who said he might not have the cash to back up his bids.
“Believe it or not but if you’ve got two people that genuinely want the property a bidding war will happen,” he said.
“I’m happy to show my bank account for anyone that suggests these were dummy bids.”
Wednesday’s stunt drew a mixed response from his 105,000 Instagram followers.
“This is why we have inflation. The rich get richer, the rest of us carry the load. Lets have a discussion about fairly taxing the super rich and spreading equality of wealth. If not, watch economies crash all around the world,” wrote on critic on Facebook.
“Nobody should have this sort of money,” said another social media user.
But not everyone agreed.
“You are an inspiration homie! I am very proud and happy for you! You inspire us! And what I admire the most, you are humble,” wrote one fan.
“Such an iconic moment and don’t forget you never see people doing better than s—ting on others (so don’t worry about the hate, comes from some type of jealousy),” wrote another.
Tweet from @rachelrwithers
Columnist and ANU professor Mark Kenny was also critical.
“Typically tasteless. Why do media keep implicitly lauding such obscene displays of wealth and ego?” he tweeted.
Mr Portelli, who is worth an estimated $350million, was unabashed. He posted photos of himself next to the car in his unfinished apartment.
“A first look at the McLaren Senna GTR 57 floors up. A huge thank you to everyone involved for making this absolutely surreal moment happen,” he wrote.
