In a recent development, Australian billionaire Adrian Portelli has donated $50,000 to two charities on behalf of Channel 9 host Alex Cullen. This follows an incident where Cullen accepted a $50,000 challenge from Portelli to refer to him as “McLaren Man” instead of the commonly used nickname “Lambo Guy” during a live broadcast. After accepting the challenge, Cullen faced internal scrutiny and returned the money. Portelli then chose to donate the returned funds, splitting them equally between the Salvation Army and the RSPCA. He praised Cullen’s character and expressed hope that the host would not face further repercussions from his employer.
This act of philanthropy is among several recent charitable endeavors by Portelli. In December 2024, he distributed approximately $150,000 in grocery vouchers to shoppers at Coles supermarkets in Western Sydney, aiming to provide cost-of-living relief during the holiday season.
However, Portelli has also faced legal challenges. In December 2024, he was charged in a South Australian court with multiple counts of conducting an unlawful lottery through his company, LMCT+. The charges pertain to alleged unlicensed lotteries conducted between 2023 and 2024. Portelli is scheduled to appear in court in January 2025 to address these allegations.
Despite these challenges, Portelli continues to engage in high-profile activities. In August 2024, he publicly addressed a break-in at his $39 million Melbourne penthouse, using social media to “name and shame” the alleged intruders. He emphasized the impact of such incidents on his family’s sense of security and called for increased building security measures.
Portelli’s recent actions highlight his complex public persona, balancing significant charitable contributions with ongoing legal and personal chal
lenges.
