Multi-millionaire hits back at “crying” Aussies
Multi-millionaire Adrian Portelli has hit back at Aussies who have complained about his ‘obscene’ display of wealth.
The Melbourne businessman has caused a stir this week after making headlines for having his $3 million sports car craned up to his $39 million penthouse on Wednesday, during a time when so many Aussies are struggling because of the cost-of-living crisis.
Portelli had hoped that he could “motivate and inspire people to want to succeed,” but many Aussies felt the exact opposite branding the move “gross”, “tasteless” and “obscene” .
One Facebook user wrote: ““This is why we have inflation. The rich get richer, the rest of us carry the load. Let's have a discussion about fairly taxing the super rich and spreading equality of wealth. If not, watch economies crash all around the world”.
Many others shared their distaste after a Reddit post on Portelli sparked outrage.
“Nobody should have this sort of money,” one person said.
Another said that the move is the “epitome of what is wrong with the world today”.
Now, the 34-year-old entrepreneur has taken to his Instagram stories to hit back and defend his actions.
“First my name was trashed publicly suggesting I was a dummy bidder and couldn’t afford The Block house. Even suggesting I was friends with the contestants because of my ethnicity,” he wrote, starting off the post with a laughing emoji.
“Now these people are crying because I’ve got ‘too much money’.
“ MAKE UP YOUR MIND PEOPLE,” he added with an emoji of a face with a thermometer in its mouth.
Portelli also shared a story from Melbourne photographer Carlz J Söda, where she defended his actions.
“Adrian is a self-made man who grinded it out for a decade. He sacrificed so much and ultimately it paid off and now he can create insane marketing campaigns like this. This is marketing. Everyone knows who he is now. It’s absolutely brilliant,” she wrote.
She added that people were “salty”, a slang term used to describe someone who is irritated, angry, or resentful about something.
“Instead of letting it motivate you to put more effort in and to show up, you’re salty because he has so much more than others. That’s what’s wrong with the world today,” she said.
She also added that instead of “being inspired”, most people choose to stay bitter and “complain to other mediocre morons on the internet”.
Portelli reposted her story with clapping emoji and the comment, “well said”.
Portelli first made headlines when he bid $4.5 million to buy his first-ever home on The Block’s Season 18 in November.
He’s been getting more attention since, after buying Melbourne's most expensive penthouse.
Images: Instagram