Billionaire Adrian Portelli is gearing up for another court appearance on Tuesday, this time over serious ‘hoon’ driving allegations that have followed him for over four years.
The 36-year-old businessman is due in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court, located in Melbourne’s western suburbs, as he faces charges related to an incident that occurred just before Christmas in 2020.
Allegations of Careless Driving and Losing Vehicle Control
Portelli has been accused of reckless driving, failing to maintain proper control of his vehicle, and driving in a manner that caused it to lose traction.
The charges stem from an alleged hooning episode involving his grey Mercedes Benz C63 coupe.
According to the police, Portelli drove the car recklessly through a roundabout in Diggers Rest, a suburb in Melbourne.
As a result, his vehicle was impounded on the spot during an interception near the Silk Drive and Diggers Rest-Coimadai Rd intersection in December 2020.
The businessman was formally charged in January 2021, more than a month after the alleged incident took place.
Public Outrage and Media Scrutiny
Portelli has recently made headlines again, but this time, the focus is not on his driving skills.
In January, he sparked outrage when he lashed out over being dubbed ‘Lambo Guy’ by the media, following his appearance on the 2022 season of The Block.
The nickname originated from Portelli’s arrival in a bright yellow Lamborghini Murciélago, but he didn’t appreciate the label and retaliated.
Portelli directed his massive Instagram following to harass the journalist, Fiona Byrne, who had written about him, leading to a wave of online bullying.
He even offered a $50,000 reward for the first journalist who would refer to him as ‘McLaren Guy’ on TV, which further intensified the public outcry.
Portelli’s actions did not go unnoticed, and his online campaign cost sports reporter Alex Cullen his job after Cullen called Portelli by his new preferred nickname on air.
The media circus around the billionaire’s antics continued, with him later posting about his $4.3 million Lamborghini speedboat.
Hooning Case: The Courtroom Drama Continues
On Tuesday, prosecutors will present their case in an effort to prove Portelli’s guilt.
The key witness, a Victoria Police Highway Patrol officer, testified that Portelli’s vehicle appeared to lose traction as it sped through the roundabout.
However, Portelli’s defense team, led by barrister Penny Marcou, disputes the claims, arguing that the police officer could not have observed the incident clearly from 255 meters away.
They even suggested that the officer might have fabricated the memory of the event, possibly because of Portelli’s public profile.
More Legal Troubles for Portelli
In addition to his hooning case, Portelli is facing legal trouble on another front.
His Melbourne-based lottery business, LMCT+, is under investigation by South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services (CBS).
The department confirmed it was prosecuting Portelli and LMCT+ after a series of investigations launched in September 2024.
Portelli faces nine charges related to conducting or assisting in unlawful lotteries, and LMCT+ is facing ten similar charges.
If convicted, Portelli could face a hefty fine of up to $190,000.
A Billionaire Under Scrutiny
Despite his legal battles, Portelli remains one of Australia’s wealthiest businessmen, with an estimated net worth of over $1 billion.
Much of his fortune comes from LMCT+, a subscription-based lottery platform.
His recent philanthropic efforts, such as distributing $150,000 in grocery vouchers to struggling families in western Sydney, have drawn attention but also sparked further scrutiny due to the ongoing investigations into his business operations.
As Portelli prepares for his court appearances this week, including a crucial session on March 6 regarding his lottery business, it’s clear that his legal and public battles are far from over.