From $1.6 million profit to... zero: Everything that happened at The Block Auction 2023.

To catch up on all The Block recaps and gossip, check out Mamamia’s recaps, and visit our The Block hub page. 

After 12 long weeks, we finally made it to the end of the 19th season of The Block.

Taking place in the family-friendly Melbourne suburb of Hampton East, this season followed contestants Kyle and Leslie, Leah and Ash, Kristy and Brett, Steph and Gian and Eliza and Liberty. 

We watched as the teams gave it their all to renovate and design five houses originally built in the 1950s, located on the aptly named Charming Street. 

Watch the trailer for The Block Auction 2023 here. Post continues after video. 

While this year didn't involve any couples walking out on us (unlike last season), the drama was so bad that it's reported that most of the contestants no longer speak to each other.

It all began when couples Kristy and Brett, and Leah and Ash, banded together and created what Eliza and Liberty would later call an undercurrent of "mean girls culture" on The Block.

Sometimes, Leah didn't like Steph, and on one occasion, Kristy told fibs about her fellow contestant in an attempt to make her seem (ironically) like a mean girl.

However, the challenge of having to renovate the homes on Charming Street was what really pushed The Block contestants to their limits.

The teams were faced with having to fire tradies, dealing with the terrible weather conditions and incessant gossip that made a lot of viewers turn the series off this year. 

Read more: Why I will no longer watch this season of The Block. 

But now, three months later, it was time for the grand finale auction.

Oh and, fair warning – spoilers ahead for the final ep of The Block 2023. You've been warned.

As all five teams sat down for their reserve meeting, they were told they did not have to share their reserve prices with each other.

Upon seeing how much they'd have to sell their homes for at auction, every team was unhappy.

The team's final reserve prices were:

Kyle and Leslie: $2,970,000

Kristy and Brett: $2,970,000 

Leah and Ash: $2,970,000 

Steph and Gian: $3,350,000

Eliza and Liberty: $3,250,000

This year, Scott Cam decided to shake things up and set the auction order BEFORE revealing reserves, so after the experts' guidance, Steph and Gian chose to go first, and everyone accepted.

This year's Blockheads. Image: Nine.

The couple's final auction order was:

• Steph and Gian, House Four
• Eliza and Liberty, House Five
• Kristy and Brett, House Two
• Kyle and Leslie, House One
• Leah and Ash, House Three

After an emotional reflection on their incredible Block journey, Steph and Gian were the first team to face auction.

Danny Wallis, the serial The Block bidder who founded I.T. service management company DWS, came in with a $3,9999,999.99 bid, making for an instant $650,000 profit right off the bat for the couple.

The millionaire has bid on several homes in The Block's history, including all five homes in the 2020 season.

In a surprise turn of events, the auction was temporarily stalled when an auction attendee fainted. Thankfully, Eliza and Liberty's father is a doctor, so he was one of two experts on hand to offer their aid to the girl.

Things were immediately back on track and after some intense bidding, Steph and Gian's home sold for $5,000,000, securing the pair $1,650,000 in profit.

It was Adrian Portelli, the "dummy bidder" from 2022, who purchased the pair's property for the whopping sum.

The winning bid means the couple have made the most profit in Block history, beating Omar and Oz, who walked away with a jaw-dropping $1,586,666 in 2022.

They also won an extra $100,000 for making the most money at auction.

Steph and Gian were the first of the houses to go under the hammer. Image: Instagram @theblock.

Next up were Eliza and Liberty. 

In the end, it was serial bidder Adrian Portelli who bought the house for $4,300,000, meaning the couple took home $1,050,000 in profit (after he outbid his own bid TWICE).

Eliza and Liberty were the second team to go under the hammer. Image: Instagram @theblock.

As for Kristy and Brett, the couple instructed their selling agent to go hard and strong in the beginning hopefully ensure a juicy profit. Unfortunately, they felt he failed to follow this instruction.

The pair ended up selling their property for a bid of $3,035,000, securing them a profit of $65,000.

Kristy and Brett were the third team to go under the hammer. Image: Instagram @theblock.

Kyle and Leslie were the fourth couple on the chopping block. 

They ended up walking away with $3,000,000 for their home, securing them a profit of $130,000.

Kyle ad Leslie were the fourth couple to go under the hammer. Image: Instagram @theblock.

The final team to go under the hammer was Leah and Ash.

After an unsatisfactory bidding, the pair decided to "pass in" the auction to avoid making a smaller profit than they were hoping for.

Leah and Ash were the last couple to go under the hammer. Image: Instagram @theblock.

Here are the final winning bids and profits for each house on The Block 2023, all in one place:

Kyle and Leslie

Reserve Price: $2,970,000
Winning Bid: $3,000,000
Profit: $130,000

Kyle and Leslie's house. Image: Domain.

Kyle and Leslie's house. Image: Domain.

Kyle and Leslie's house. Image: Domain.

Kyle and Leslie's house. Image: Domain.

Kristy and Brett

Reserve Price: $2,970,000
Winning Bid: $3,035,000
Profit: $65,000

Kristy and Brett's house. Image: Domain.

Kristy and Brett's house. Image: Domain.

Kristy and Brett's house. Image: Domain.

Kristy and Brett's house. Image: Domain.

Leah and Ash

Reserve Price: $2,970,000  
Winning Bid: $0 (passed in)
Profit: $0 (passed in)

Leah and Ash's house. Image: Domain.

Leah and Ash's house. Image: Domain.

Leah and Ash's house. Image: Domain.

Leah and Ash's house. Image: Domain.

Steph and Gian

Reserve Price: $3,350,000
Winning Bid: $5,000,000
Profit: $1,650,000  

Steph and Gian's house. Image: Domain.

Steph and Gian's house. Image: Domain.

Steph and Gian's house. Image: Domain.

Steph and Gian's house. Image: Domain.

Eliza and Liberty

Reserve Price: $3,250,000
Winning Bid: $4,300,000 
Profit: $1,050,000

Eliza and Liberty's house. Image: Domain.

Eliza and Liberty's house. Image: Domain.

Eliza and Liberty's house. Image: Domain.

Eliza and Liberty's house. Image: Domain.

And that's a wrap! Another year of The Block done and dusted. It hasn't been an easy ride for any of the contestants, but considering the cash all five teams are walking away this year, we dare say the strife was worth it.

Until next season, Blockheads!

Want to find out more about the products used on The Block? Check out The Block Shop here.

Feature Image: Nine.