Babies, more renovations and marriages: Where are the winners of The Block now?

Since the inception of The Block back in 2003, the lives of many couples have been changed forever after walking away with a win on the hit renovation show.

Several marriages, babies, more renovations, and job losses later, we take a look at where the couples who walked away with hundreds of thousands of dollars are now.

Omar Slaimankhel and Ozman ‘Oz’ Abu Malik – 2022 Winners

After a season full of many tears, fueds and even a walk out, Omar and Oz emerged victorious from the The Block: Tree Change auction.

In what was described as the ”most chaotic finale in the history of The Block”, the friends sold their house for $5,666,666.66, earning a profit of $1,586,666.66 in what (at the time of writing), is the largest sum ever over a reserve across The Block’s 18 seasons.

Along with their winners’ prize money of $100,000, the total winnings ended at $1,686,666.66.

Whilst the pair hadn’t renovated houses previously, both had worked in the construction industry before.

After their historic win, they told 9Entertainment that they came into The Block for a ”massive experience” and looked forward to enjoying their winnings with their families.

”We left our families behind to compete on The Block so we are going to do exactly what we set out to do, which is make sure their lives are amazing,” Omar said.

“But it’s back to normal life now, nothing much will change for us.”

Oz said alongside Omar, they looked forward to working with charities, and investing not only their winnings, but their time into charitable work.

”We have also loved expressing ourselves on TV and hopefully we can continue doing that as we love putting smiles on peoples faces….the sky is the limit,” Oz said.

In the months following their historic win, the pair undertook a number of charitable engagements including the annual McHappy Day that raises funds for Ronald McDonald houses around the country, and were even nominated for an award at the presitigious Australian Muslim Achievement Awards.

Something tells us that the sky is the limit for these guys…

Mitch Edwards and Mark McKie – 2021 winners

The show’s 2021 winners were in total shock when they won the largest sum over reserve out of all their competitors when they sold their home for $4,044,44, which amounted to a profit of $644,444 – taking home the $100,000 prize money their total winnings were $744,444.

At the time, they revealed, “We never had expectations or even hopes for that amount. This changes our lives as we’ve got a mortgage that we can’t jump over, but with this prize we can take a great leap at it now”.

The homewares store owners from Melbourne are apparently setting their sights on a Block related career change by taking over as judges.

In conversation with Woman’s Day, they revealed they would accept the job by accusing the experts of being “out of touch.”

“We would do it if they asked,” they shared.

Since wining the show the dynamic duo have amassed a dedicated fanbase who their share their own renovating and interior design tips with through their @mitchandmark Instagram handle.

Reflecting on their time on the show, six months on from the finale, Mitch and Mark shared on their socials about just how incredible their experience had been.

”As a gay couple we once felt we needed to be quiet and strive for acceptance, but you have all made us feel special and worthy – we are so appreciative of the loving acceptance and positivity we’ve been shown!”

A year after their Block win, the couple jetted off to Europe as borders began to reopen post-COVID.

They also took a trip down memory lane, visiting the 2022 site of The Block: Tree Change where they imparting their renovating wisdom on that seasons Blockheads in what they described as the ”toughest season ever.”

Apart from travelling the world, Mitch and Mark have started their own podcast, Reality Reno with Mitch and Mark, revamped their homewares brand, Mitch and Mark Home, and Mitch is readying his own clothing range of shirts: “for fabulous women or very brave men.”

Tam and Jimmy Wilkins – 2020 winners

Tam and Jimmy were part of one of the biggest scandals to ever rock The Block.

The saga started when their Brighton home sold for $4.256million at auction, winning them first prize and smashing its reserve of $3.29 million. But the Queensland couple’s happily ever after was short-lived.

Jimmy and Tam were infamously duped by Emese Fajk – an alleged “con woman” who placed the winning bid on their house but then failed to pay up.

After eight months of stress and uncertainty, the couple’s renovated Palm Springs-inspired home was purchased by a legitimate buyer for $4million – a $256,000 discount on the original sale price.

Nearly two years on from the scandal, Jimmy and Tam are living comfortably in Byron Bay with their daughter.

“Prior to The Block we were renting in Brisbane without any sort of sight of owning our home within the next five to ten years,” Jimmy told Now To Love.

“It’s enabled us to actually buy our house outright and mortgage-free. And we’ve still got money in the bank as well to help us get our businesses off the ground and live life quite comfortably and not have those pressures.”

“We still have those pressures. We don’t know life without pressure. But not having that financial pressure is massive.”

They are also filming a web series called Let’s Build a Wide Span Shed with Jimmy and Tam while building their own property in Pomona, Queensland.

The couple also love taking their fans on trips down memory lane, sharing behind the scenes photos and videos from their time on the reality show.

Tess and Luke Struber – 2019 winners

Cairns couple Tess and Luke Struber pocketed a huge $730,000 when their St Kilda terrace sold for $3.62 million, making them the winners of The Block 2019.

Three years on from their win, the couple said their lives went back to normal “pretty quickly”.

“We live a really nice, calm and quiet life in Cairns and every so often we get noticed by someone and it’s really lovely to be congratulated and recognised for the hard work,” they previously said.

“We love meeting new people and The Block has definitely made that happen for us. We have had some amazing work opportunities that have taken us to different cities and experienced things that we never would have before.”

The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Cleo Sophia, in April 2021.

“Our baby girl Cleo Sophia Struber, born 21/4 at 6:30pm, named after her great grandmother, Cleopha,” the couple shared on Instagram after her birth.

Tess later gushed over Luke, praising him for being by her side during labour.

“There are no words. I fell in-love with Luke all over again on the 21/4. There is no way I would have been able to get through this day without him,” Tess wrote.

Since their time on the show, the couple have put their newfound real estate skills to the test.

While still buzzing from their life-changing auction on The Block, the couple sold their Cairns home shortly after the show wrapped.

Tess and Luke bought an un-renovated, three-bedroom weatherboard house in Manunda for $269,000 in October 2014.

Having given the property a full makeover, they sold it in November 2019 for $410,000.

Following the same thread, the couple set up their own business – Priority Building Inspections FNQ – in October 2022, taking to their Instagram to write: ”It’s official, we have our own company! Proud is an understatement! Luke has worked his ass off day and night, weekends and public holidays to get us here. He is one of the youngest and most sought after inspectors in Cairns.”

In 2023, the couple will also be celebrating five years of marriage, and we have a feeling baby number two will be here sooner than we think!

Hayden Vale and Sara Tumino – 2018 winners

2018 winners Hayden and Sara walked away with $645,000 in prize money after their apartment fetched $3,020,000 at auction.

The couple already owned a property in the NSW Illawarra region and ended up putting their entire winnings towards construction on the home.

In February 2021, the couple sold their North Bondi apartment for $1,225,000.

In May 2019, Sara and Hayden welcomed their second child, a boy named Lawson Jet.

But flight attendant Sara and construction company worker Hayden have also faced their fair share of setbacks after their triumph on The Block, both having lost their jobs due to the COVID pandemic.

In March 2021 when the virus swept the world, the couple were left with no source of income.

Almost a year after being laid off, Sara was back in the skies in January this year working as a Virgin Australia flight attendant.

The mother-of-two, donning her uniform, proudly posed next to a Virgin sign at the airport, captioning her post: “Hey Big Red, I’m back.”

“It has been a very sad several months in the world of aviation, with friends all over the world in different airlines, each one of their airlines slowly succumbing to Covid,” she said at the time.

“It’s been very upsetting and at one point I actually thought the same about our airline but with a little luck we are managing to survive.”

Since her return to work, Sara has proudly posted pictures and TikToks of herself on the plane and with Virgin signs.

Hayden, who worked as a director and manager of a construction company, was unable to work on site during the height of the pandemic.

Josh Barker and Elyse Knowles – 2017 winners

Tradie Josh Barker and his model girlfriend Elyse Knowles took out The Block back in 2017 with a whopping prize money of $547,000.

The competition’s youngest couple were the first auction starting with a reserve of $2.62 million.

The house sold to radio host and comedian Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes for $3,067,000, with Josh and Elyse making a profit of $447,000.

The pair wasted no time in cashing in on their renovation skills and launched building and design company J&E Projects the following year.

“J&E Projects is a Byron Bay-based construction group focusing on the delivery of architecturally unique, highly specified single residences, multi residential and commercial fit-outs in both Byron Bay and Melbourne,” the couple said of their company.

Josh, who still works as a tradie, and Elyse, whose modelling career has soared since the show, ditched their city life in Melbourne and relocated to sunny Byron Bay in early 2019, where they eventually got engaged.

“Change can bring opportunity, fresh beginnings and a new perspective. It challenges you to go out and meet new people, find new habits and just live your life in a slightly different way. It’s refreshing and very liberating,” Elyse said of their move.

In February 2021, the couple welcomed their first child together, a boy named Sunny.

“Sunny is growing into such a little dude now. He’s so alert and fun, he’s loving, full of smiles and he is so cuddly. I could smooch him all day long,” the Myer ambassador gushed to WHO.

Elyse praised Josh as a “natural, hands-on” dad to Sunny, and said the mutual adoration between the father and son is “beautiful” to watch.

“Josh works full time so when he comes home in the afternoon, he takes the reins,” she said.

And it’s looking like more kids are on the cards for Elyse and Josh.

“We would love a big family,” she says.

Elyse likes to share pictures of her bub on Instagram from days with their extended family, at the beach, and picnics.

Will Bethune and Karlie Cicero – 2016 winners

Will and Karlie, who were just 25 when they competed on The Block, took out the competition after selling their apartment for $2,600,000 – a whopping $715,000 over their reserve.

The couple pocketed a further $100,000 prize from Channel 9.

Soon after pocketing their winnings, the Queenslanders married and spent their blissful honeymoon in New Zealand.

In December 2020, Will and Karlie put their Queensland home in Rochedale South on the market after it underwent a full renovation.

“Our first home is now for sale! This is no Block masterpiece however it is filled with some pretty incredible memories!” the couple shared on social media at the time.

“Let’s hope the new owners can fill this home with some pretty amazing memories also.”

Since their successful stint on The Block, the couple have welcomed their first child, daughter Indigo.

“We are the happiest parents and think we are punching well above our weight with how gorgeous this girl is,” they wrote on Instagram in August 2020 after Indigo’s birth.

Their little girl is a toddler now, and the family recently went on a family trip to Port Douglas. On their joint Instagram account, they wrote about how well their daughter handled their flight.

“What an amazing family holiday. We were a little concerned as it was Indigo’s first plane trip, but we survived and we were so proud of how well she did. Our top tip for travelling with a toddler… Distractions, Distractions, Distractions 🤣.”

The couple have also opened up their own AirBnb in Caloundra, Queensland, a holiday apartment by the water that they purchased in April 2022.