My Reno Rules 2026 Episode 8 recap: Adrian Portelli unleashes wild five million dollar blitz

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Adrian Portelli’s My Reno Rules grand final delivered a $1m winner, two $2m cash giveaways and live TV phone-call chaos. Picture: Seven

Billionaire Adrian Portelli turned the My Reno Rules grand final into live television chaos, handing out more than $5m after two viewers won $2m each while not even watching the show.

The wild Channel 7 finale also crowned parents Mitch and Shaz as the inaugural My Reno Rules champions, with the pair pocketing $1m after launching from last place to pull off a shock leaderboard flip.

But the night’s most chaotic moments came after the winner was crowned, when Portelli began calling viewers live on air to tell them they had won either one of the renovated Bulleen houses or $2m cash.
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The first winner, Nathan B, nearly missed the call completely.

Portelli had warned viewers they would have only three minutes to answer their phone or face an official redraw.

Then the phone rang once, then it stopped.

Portelli and the production team started calling again, texting, emailing and asking the crowd whether anyone knew Nathan.

“This could be our first official redraw,” Portelli said as the clock ticked down.

He left a message telling Nathan to answer his phone because the call would be “life changing”.

Adrian Portelli turned the My Reno Rules grand final into a multimillion-dollar live TV cash spectacle. Picture: Seven

Adrian Portelli and Dr Chris Brown hosted the My Reno Rules grand final as contestants battled for the $1m prize. Picture: Seven

When Nathan finally picked up, he was not watching the show.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to live TV,” Portelli said.

Nathan was told he had won either House 1 in Bulleen or $2m cash.

He chose the cash.

Portelli then asked who he would tell first.

“I just pulled me wife out of bed and she’s a bit confused at the moment,” Nathan said.

When he told her they had won $2m, he let slip a very understandable live television swear word.

Portelli quickly stepped in.

“Maybe not those words exactly, Nathan,” he said.

Then the whole thing happened again.

Dr Chris Brown and Adrian Portelli fronted the My Reno Rules finale before the live viewer giveaway sent the night off-script. Picture: Seven

The second winner, 75-year-old Graham, also was not watching My Reno Rules when Portelli called to say he had won House 2 or $2m cash.

“Are you watching Channel 7?” Portelli asked.

“No, we’re not,” Graham said.

His family then appeared to scramble for the television.

“You weren’t watching before, mate. Don’t pretend you’re watching it now,” Portelli said.

Graham also chose the $2m cash, with Portelli revealing his daughter had become engaged on the same day.

The two viewer wins capped a finale that had already delivered a major upset for the contestants.

Emma and Michelle’s electric gate gave House 1 a luxury entrance in the final My Reno Rules reveal. Picture: Seven

Nathan and Julia packed their My Reno Rules backyard with a pool, sauna, fire pit, outdoor kitchen and family zones. Picture: Seven

Mitch and Shaz entered the grand final in fourth place on 70 points, behind Nathan and Julia on 72 and Franky and Isaac and Emma and Michelle on 71.

They needed their final front yard to land after a nightmare kitchen week had sent them tumbling down the leaderboard.

Mitch, a landscaper, got his chance in the last build and used it.

Their front yard, named Meraki, featured stone detail, considered planting and a polished street presence that won over the judges.

Shaz said the Greek word loosely translated to doing something with love and with a piece of yourself.

Judges Neale Whitaker, Julia Green and Simon Cohen delivered the final scores that decided the first My Reno Rules champions. Picture: Seven

Nathan and Julia entered the My Reno Rules grand final on top before a shock result left them in fourth place. Picture: Seven

Judge Julia Green called the result “flawless”.

When the final placings were revealed, Nathan and Julia were first named in fourth place, receiving $50,000.

It was a shock result after the couple went into the finale on top of the leaderboard and threw everything at their backyard, including a pool, sauna, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, cubby house, bar, dining zone and cabana.

Emma and Michelle capped their My Reno Rules comeback with third place and $100,000 after weeks of pressure. Picture: Seven

The judges liked parts of the space, particularly the pool area, but felt the backyard had too many competing zones.

Nathan said the $50,000 prize was still huge for his family.

Emma and Michelle finished third, winning $100,000 after one of the season’s biggest comeback arcs.

Franky and Isaac finished second on My Reno Rules, taking home $250,000 after their underdog run. Picture: Seven

Franky and Isaac’s backyard impressed judges with a relaxed family feel, outdoor kitchen, sauna, fire pit and veggie garden. Picture: Seven

The mother-daughter duo had been close to quitting earlier in the competition before clawing their way back with the highest score of the season and a $10,000 room bonus from Portelli.

Franky and Isaac finished second, winning $250,000 after their backyard was praised for its relaxed family feel, outdoor kitchen, sauna, fire pit and veggie garden inspired by Franky’s yia yia.