Controversial Block bidder Adrian 'Mr Lambo' Portelli pays a record-breaking $39m for breathtaking Melbourne penthouse - where he will have a luxury car 'craned in' on the 57th floor

Adrian Portelli has splashed out on a luxury Melbourne penthouse, breaking a record for the city's most expensive apartment after paying an eye-watering $39million for the pad.

The Block bidder, who was branded 'Mr Lambo' on the reality show last year, will reportedly use the property as a weekender.

The 34-year-old is a multi-millionaire property investor and online promotions guru with an estimated net worth of $350million.

He is set to spend another $6million on modifying and customising the 1200sqm sky home - which will include craning a luxury car in to the 57th floor as an 'art piece'.

The businessman told realestate.com.au he decided to buy the apartment the same day he saw it because of 'the security' and it being a 'blank canvas'.

He also admitted that a selling point was the penthouse's direct link to the second tower, which will house a five-star Shangri-La hotel.

The hotel includes a bar with a see-though floor that features a bridge linking the two towers at a high level.

'I've got a lift from my apartment that goes directly to the bar,' Portelli said.

But Portelli said that despite it's prime location - the 'Sapphire by the Gardens' twin-tower development on LaTrobe Street in the heart of the CBD - the property wont be his primary residence.

'I don't like city living,' he told the publication, adding he prefers a laid-back lifestyle on the Gold Coast.

'This will probably be a weekender.'

The outlet also reports that Portelli is planning to include four bedrooms inside the penthouse, as well as multiple kitchens, a cinema, indoor pool and a cigar bar.

Portelli made headlines last year for pushing up the price of Omar and Oz's home during The Block finale.

He opened the bidding at $4.5m - far above the $4.08m reserve - and his aggressive style meant eventual buyer Danny Wallis ended up paying an eye-watering $5,666,666.66 for the five-bedroom, 10-acre Gisborne estate.

While he may be driving Lamborghinis and bidding on luxury houses these days, life looked very different for the businessman a few years ago.

Portelli dropped out of university to work for his father's truck repair business before moving to LA to launch a limousine service for celebrities, but found himself struggling to pay rent. 

Portelli posted an advertisement for a flatmate online, and ended up finding someone who helped him develop several successful apps, which he later sold.

'We created some magic together,' he told the Herald Sun.

But his passion was cars and he later founded auto enthusiast club LMCT+ in 2018, which has now become Australia's largest and fastest-growing car community.

He also runs his own promotions and giveaway business, focusing on luxury vehicles and prestige houses.

Portelli is the owner of The Little Legends Foundation, which provides urgent medical care and offers experiences for vulnerable children.