Fan favourites Britt and Taz have won The Block 2025 in a disastrous finale that delivered some of the smallest profits in 14 years and two teams who walked away with nothing.

The tension was palpable in Daylesford on the day as contestants grappled with a shallow pool of serious bidders, unrealistic reserve prices, and the absence of big-spending billionaire Adrian Portelli to come to the rescue.

In the end, just $749,999 in prize money across all five houses was given away, the smallest amount since the 2011 season in Richmond, when just one couple made $115,000.

Britt and Taz’s House 1 kicked off the day, going first in the auction order, and sold under the hammer for $3.41 million, placing them first and winning them an extra $100,000. Photo: Channel Nine / 9Now

Last year’s season at Phillip Island was the most lucrative set of auctions in the show’s 20-year history, earning those contestants a total of $15.05 million when Portelli bought all five houses.

Rumours had been flying that Portelli would return this year – despite sensationally quitting The Block last year – and hand out multimillion-dollar wins to the contestants. Spotted in the auction crowd was buyer’s agent Mark Errichiello of Master Advocates, who bid on behalf of Portelli last year, but looked barely interested throughout the entire day.

The day started on a high when Britt and Taz’s “modern organic luxury” house sold under the hammer for $3.41 million to a mystery couple from Victoria, making them a tidy $420,000 profit.

The West Australian police officers were beaming and visibly relieved as they walked out to massive cheers from the other contestants.

“That’s paid off our mortgage … it’s life-changing,” Britt said.

“If two country coppers with no renovation experience can do it, anyone can do it,” Taz added.

But they were wrong.

Best mates Robby and Mat of House 5, who were widely tipped to win the entire show, fronted up next with high hopes, but their auction was stilted and slow. It quickly became apparent that the $3 million mark was the absolute limit for most of the bidders – the reserve price was $2.99 million – and after Danny Wallis won the house with a bid of $3,099,999.10, they walked away with a shock $109,999.10.

Split between the two of them, their winnings come to $54,999.55 each.

Robby and Mat were hot favourites to take out the 2025 season win, but their house went $109,999.10 over reserve on the day. Photo: Channel Nine / 9Now

“We’re f—-d off,” Mat laughed afterwards. “It’s not the best outcome.”

Robby was visibly upset, with tears in his eyes, and blamed the high reserve price.

“If the reserve had been $300,000 less, they wouldn’t be able to catch us right now,” he said. “I’ve missed 40 per cent of my son’s life being on this show. The guilt of being away from my partner as a new mum – she’s a real hero – I was hoping to bring some money home for them today.

“But you know, we had a great time. I think Australia fell in love with us. And Matt and I are very proud of what we’ve done.”

The Block 2025 contestants were devastated when their reserve prices of $2.99 million was revealed. Photo: Channel Nine / 9Now

Their agent Kim McQueen of McQueen Real Estate said the reserves were unrealistic, especially given the location in Daylesford.

“The reality is despite The Block houses being incredible, they are in a third-grade location; on the highway and opposite a pet shop. It wouldn’t have mattered if The Block houses were gilded with gold, that location was always going to hold them back,” she said.

“The valuers engaged by Channel Nine, CBRE, contacted me and I spoke with them in depth on two occasions. They visited the properties to do their valuations and afterwards they told me they were going to value all The Block houses at around $2.5 million,” she said.

If Robby and Mat’s auction was a slow and ultimately disappointing burn, lovable new parents Emma and Ben’s auction was devastating to watch.

Emma and Ben’s auction was difficult to watch – the new parents were forced to pass in their house after it failed to make reserve. Photo: Channel Nine / 9Now

The couple, who welcomed their first baby only weeks ago, had high hopes Adrian Portelli would deliver them a windfall, but bidding started low and quickly capped out at $2.97 million – $20,000 shy of the reserve.

Their auctioneer left the room to seek advice from Ben and Emma, returning to announce a vendor’s bid of $3.1 million. Not a single bidder raised their paddle, and the house was passed in at that price.

Emma and Ben consulted with their agent, Aaron Hill of Ray White, after it became apparent they were in danger ending up with a minuscule profit. Photo: Channel Nine / 9Now

The pair were devastated, and the tears flowed as they revealed they “felt the writing was on the wall” watching Robby and Mat’s auction unfold the way it did.

“[It was] really surprising. I mean, we walked up there still thinking that we might have had an ace up our sleeves with Adrian here, but I don’t know, he doesn’t have the deep pockets that he used to have,” Ben said.

Gold Coast mum and dad Sonny and Alicia of House 4 walked in next, expecting the worst, but the most-maligned couple of the season got a redemption arc when their house sold for $3.06 million, winning them $120,000 and putting them into second place.

Sonny and Alicia of House 4 ended up in second place, winning $120,000 in prize money. Photo: Channel Nine / 9Now

The couple went in with a massive advantage – a $50,000 discount off their reserve, which they had won during the final week of competition – and it made all the difference.

“We’ve been so fortunate today, and to be able to give mum a car and us to walk away with $120,000, like we’re honestly so lucky,” Alicia said. “You guys have seen what’s happened today … a tough day for everyone.”

After the high of Sonny and Alicia’s auction, the momentum fizzled out, and the day finished on a disappointing note.

Han and Can’s House 2 was arguably always going to be the most difficult to sell. They had the least interest during the campaign and in the week leading up to the auctions; no bidders.

Han and Can were disappointed with their result but went in with a game plan after seeing how some of the other auctions played out. Photo: Channel Nine / 9Now

Anticipating a tough crowd, their auctioneer put their house on the market immediately with a vendor bid of $3.1 million, but the room stood absolutely still in complete silence. Their house, like Emma and Ben’s, was passed in, leaving them with no prize money on the day.

The couple faced the media immediately after their auction and were incredibly gracious about their result.

“It was bittersweet going at the tail end of the day. We got to see all our fellow contestants go through, some with pretty disappointing results, and we were able to learn from that,” Can said.

“Our auctioneer and real estate agency did the very best they could. It would be a tough market – five homes in Daylesford, all under the hammer on the same day.”

The Block auctions 2025 yielded mixed results and as whole, significantly less in profits. Photo: Channel Nine / 9Now

Britt and Taz’s House 3 went first in the auction order following a strategic decision by the whole cast when the reserve prices were revealed at $2.99 million. A typical house in Daylesford costs $820,000, according to Domain.

Taz and Britt’s $420,000 windfall, although life-changing, is less than what Kylie and Brad from the 2024 Phillip Island season, who placed last, won.