Block winners Omar and Oz address controversy over record auction win and ‘millionaire’ bidder: ‘We deserve it’
The Block’s Omar Slaimankhel and Ozman “Oz” Abu Malik opened up about their controversial auction win.
Both men insist they ‘deserved’ the win and their ‘friendship’ with millionaire bidder Adrian Portelli was simply smart networking.
“We implemented, not just the construction, we also implemented after. We reached out to so many people, we were non-stop, so the hard work pays off,’ Omar told A Current Affair on Tuesday night.
The Block’s Omar Slaimankhel and Ozman “Oz” Abu Malik opened up about their controversial auction win. Both men insisted they ‘deserved’ the win and that their ‘friendship’ with millionaire bidder Adrian Portelli was simply smart networking. Pictured with Adrian
“I feel like it happens a lot in this country. You do so well and the next day you try to justify why you won,” he continued.
“It’s unfortunate because we deserve it and we did it so well.”
The couple have come under intense scrutiny over their ‘millionaire mate’ Adrian Portelli – the man whose aggressive bidding has driven up the price of their home in Gisborne.
“We implemented, not just the construction, we also implemented after. We reached out to so many people, we were nonstop, so the hard work pays off,’ Omar told A Current Affair on Tuesday night.
“I feel like it happens a lot in this country. You do so well and the next day you try to justify why you won,” he continued. “It’s unfortunate because we deserve it and we did it so well.”
Adrian shared a celebratory Instagram post on Monday where he was relaxing in a pool with Omar and Oz, who took home $1.6 million in prize money in Sunday night’s biting final.
The photo showed the trio posing for a selfie in the pool as The Block played on the living room TV in the background.
It comes after Adrian, an online promotions guru with an estimated net worth of $8million, hit back at false allegations that he colluded with Omar and Oz to ‘rig’ their record auction on Sunday.
Adrian opened bidding for the Omar and Oz property at $4.5 million, well above the reserve price of $4.08 million, and his aggressive styling meant that eventual buyer Danny Wallis ended up paying $5,666,666.66 for the 10-acre property.
He had opened bidding on House 5 at $4.5 million, which was well above the reserve price of $4.08 million.
His aggressive bidding meant eventual buyer Danny Wallis ended up paying $5,666,666.66 for the four-bedroom, 10-acre property, making the boys instant millionaires with total winnings of $1,686,666.66 – the biggest win in The Block’s 18-year history.
Conspiracy theories have since run wild on social media, with some viewers baselessly accusing the West Sydney pals of ‘rigging’ the auction by tricking Adrian into driving up the price.
Adrian, an online promotions guru with a net worth of $8million, hit back at false claims he colluded with Omar and Oz to ‘rig’ their record auction on Sunday
However, Adrian hit back at the claims and insisted he was a “genuine buyer”.
“To anyone questioning the legitimacy of the auction, I was a genuine buyer with every intention of buying this property,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Nobody is responsible for what happened. It’s an auction. Believe it or not, but if you have two people who really want the property, a bidding war will start.
He continued: “I’m happy to show my bank account to anyone who suggests these were bogus offers.”
“For anyone questioning the legitimacy of the auction, I was a genuine buyer with every intention of purchasing this property,” he wrote on Instagram.
Advertising