Hundreds of Australians braved the heat outside Coles stores in western Sydney for the chance to score a shopping voucher from billionaire Adrian Portelli, but not everyone left happy.
Portelli, also known as ‘Mr. Lambo’, announced on social media that it would be distributing $150,000 worth of Coles vouchers to 1,000 families and shared the locations where they would be delivered on Tuesday morning.
Shoppers queued for hours at Coles stores in Penrith and Fairfield West, enduring sweltering 33C heat as they waited for the billionaire’s arrival and the chance to get their hands on a voucher worth $100 or $200.
A woman, who waited four hours to get to the front of the queue at the Fairfield West store, expressed her delight after receiving an envelope containing her $200 Coles gift card.
‘This is wonderful. “I’ve been waiting for this since 8 o’clock,” he said.
As the day progressed, more hopeful Australians joined the queue, which eventually stretched around the block.
While many were delighted to receive a $200 voucher, others left disappointed after leaving empty-handed.
One woman said she spent hours queuing and was turned away when staff announced the queue had reached the 500-person limit.
Hundreds of people flocked to Penrith and West Fairfield as billionaire Adrian Portelli handed out $150,000 Coles vouchers to 1,000 families.
One woman told Daily Mail Australia she was “angry” after being turned away because the queue had reached the 500-person limit.
A group of women who missed the draw despite standing in line
“I’m angry, they told us to leave and now we’ve lost two hours,” Habesh told Daily Mail Australia.
Others complained about the heat as they waited for hours in the slow line, while some tried to get relief from the sun by using umbrellas for shade.
A Fairfield West local told Daily Mail Australia he was hopeful of receiving free food but said it was “very hot” waiting in line as temperatures soared to 33C.
Portelli handed out the first dozen gift cards before handing the job over to Cole’s staff.
‘It’s fantastic to be able to offer help to families before Christmas. Why not? “I can help with people, so I can also spend the money,” Portelli said.
The billionaire said the reaction to his voucher giveaway only showed how “desperate people are these days.”
It comes as Australians across the country struggle amid a national cost of living crisis.
A survey earlier this year found one in five Australians are working a second job to make ends meet, and another 18 per cent are working extra hours to pay for the basics.
Shoppers waited for hours in 33°C heat.
An Australian family claims their Coles voucher courtesy of Adrian Portelli
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank’s 13 interest rate rises in 2022 and 2023 were the most dramatic since the late 1980s to combat a post-Covid rise in inflation.
Borrowers now pay 64 percent more in their monthly payments than they did two and a half years ago.
That’s almost $19,000 extra a year on an average $600,000 home loan. However, in some outer suburban areas of Sydney, mortgage holders would conservatively pay $23,000 more.
Adding to their frustration, the Reserve Bank kept the cash rate unchanged at a 12-year high of 4.35 per cent on November 5.
Others were luckier and walked away with $100 or $200 vouchers after waiting in line for hours.
Pictured, 25-year-old Lee-Arnna Austin-Fasham (right) with her 32-year-old husband Christopher Hodges (center) and 53-year-old mother Jenni Harrison (left) got a $200 voucher.
Portelli is the founder of the online company LCMT+ that frequently gives away big cash prizes and luxury cars and offers its members discounted products from retailers.
LMCT+ makes money by charging a subscription fee to users, who gain access to exclusive competitions, with prizes including houses, bikes, cars and boats.
It has around 100,000 customers who pay a monthly subscription.
Subscribers also get exclusive offers from over 1,000 partners, including Beaurepaires, Patriot Campers and Prestige Autoworks.
Portelli’s net worth has been valued by the AFR at more than $1 billion, taking into account his collection of properties and luxury cars, as well as the paper value of his company LMCT+.
Dozens of shoppers are hoping to get a $100 or $200 Coles voucher
Portelli is also a regular fixture on The Block, appearing on the show every year during auctions and frequently buying houses.
Portelli’s net worth has been valued at over $1 billion by the AFR, taking into account his collection of properties and luxury cars, as well as the paper value of LMCT+.
The businessman ranked seventh on the Financial Review’s young rich list this year.
The car enthusiast made international headlines when he had a rare $3 million McLaren brought up to his $39 million Melbourne penthouse in May last year.