The Block 2020: Jimmy and Tam the biggest winners in the show’s history

Victory at Saturday’s auctions puts Queenslanders Jimmy and Tam Wilkins at the top of the table, well above previous record-breaking seasons.

The previous long-standing record was held by Darren and Deanne Jolly in 2015’s Triple Threat season, who took home $935,000. That season also saw big prizes for Charlotte Ekas and Josh Terrett ($810,000), Ayden and Jess Hogan ($665,000) and Tim and Anastasia Ielasi ($755,000).

Behind Darren and Dea on the winner’s list are 2016’s Will Bethune and Karlie Ciciero, whose Port Melbourne apartment sold for $715,000 above reserve, netting them the $100,000 winner’s cheque in addition for a total prize of $815,000.

Gallery: All the past winners of The Block and their prize money

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Fourth-highest winners in The Block are Dean and Shay Paine, winners of The Block’s second 2015 season, The Blocktagon, in South Yarra. Their penthouse in the former Hotel Saville beat its auction reserve by $655,000 – plus their $100,000 prize – for a total of $755,000.

The Block 2020 record prize money

• Jimmy and Tam: $1.066m ($966,000 over reserve, plus $100,000 winner’s prize)
• Sarah and George: $650,002
• Harry and Tash: $650,000
• Luke and Jasmin: $506,000
• Daniel and Jade: $460,000

Total prize money: $3,332,002

Coming in fifth are the winners of the 2014 Fans v Faves season in Albert Park, Steve O’Donnell and Chantelle Ford, who pocketed $736,000. Last year’s winners, Tess and Luke Struber, whose renovation of a Grey Street, St Kilda, house went $630,000 above reserve for $730,000 in total prize money, come in sixth.

The Block: Gatwick winners from 2018, Hayden and Sara Vale, rank seventh, with $645,000, followed by the 2012 South Melbourne victors, Brad and Lara Cranfield, with $606,000.

The only other winners to crack more than half a million dollars are Josh Barker and Elyse Knowles, who took out the Elsternwick season in 2017 with a $547,000 prize. Brothers Simon and Shannon Vos won The Block: Glasshouse in Prahran in 2014, with $435,000.

The more recent stellar results far eclipse the show’s more humble beginnings: Adam Thorn and Fiona Mills won the show’s first season in Bondi in 2003 at $256,000, and Jamie and Andrew Rochford $178,000 in the second season, set in Manly in 2004.

How much have The Block winners taken home?

2003 Bondi – Adam & Fiona, $256,000

2004 Manly – Jamie & Andrew, $178,000

2010 Vaucluse – John & Neisha, $305,000

2011 Richmond – Polly & Waz, $115,000

2012 South Melbourne – Brad & Lara, $606,000

2013 All Stars (Bondi) – Phil & Amity, $395,000

2013 Sky High (South Melbourne) – Alisa & Lysandra, $395,000

2014 Fans v Faves (Albert Park) – Steve & Chantelle, $736,000

2014 Glasshouse (Prahran) – Shannon & Simon, $435,000

2015 Triple Threat (South Yarra) – Darren & Deanne, $935,000

2015 The Blocktagon (South Yarra) – Dean & Shay, $755,000

2016 The Block 2016 (Port Melbourne) – Will & Karlie, $815,000

2017 The Block 2017 (Elsternwick) – Josh & Elyse, $547,000

2018 The Block Gatwick (St Kilda) – Hayden & Sara, $645,000

2019 The Block Oslo (St Kilda) – Tess & Luke, $730,000