Months after his record-setting win, lottery winner Edwin Castro splurged − for him and his parents.
Castro, the sole winner of the $2.04 billion Powerball drawing on Nov. 7, 2022, opted for the lump sum, which was just shy of $1 billion , according to the California Lottery .
He claimed his prize on Valentine's Day 2023. What's sweeter than a check from the California Lottery for $997.6 million?
How about a multimillion-dollar home in Hollywood Hills, California − and a multimillion-dollar home for his parents in his hometown of Altadena, not far from where he bought the winning lottery ticket.
Here's what we know.
What did $2.04 billion Powerball lottery winner, Edwin Castro of California, do with his prize money?
Edwin Castro of Altadena, California, won the Nov. 7, 2022, Powerball drawing for $2.04 billion, the largest-ever lottery jackpot. On Valentine's Day 2023, Castro opted for a lump sum of $997.6 million, just shy of $1 billion, according to the California Lottery. After taxes, Castro walked away with $628.5 million, USA TODAY reported.
Since his historic win, news reports show he has splurged, buying not one, but two multimillion-dollar homes in his home state of California , and many vintage cars that are sure to turn heads.
In addition to his luxury splurges, Castro has a round-the-clock security team.
On March 1, 2023, Castro bought a $25.5 million estate in Hollywood Hills , California. According to USA TODAY, the 13,500-square-foot mansion, sometimes referred to as "Palazzo di Vista," sits on a 0.58-acre lot and features five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, game room, wine cellar, movie theater, bar, spa and fitness studio. The main room is on the third floor and has its own balcony. Other amenities include a garage big enough to park seven cars. Most of the house, which sports an outdoor infinity pool and fireplace, is made up of glass walls.
Then, on March 9, 2023, according to the New York Post , Castro purchased a second home in Altadena, a $4 million mansion with views of the San Gabriel Mountains. Features of the 1953 Japanese-style home include a pool, movie theater, five bedrooms and four bathrooms, the New York Post reported. Castro was reportedly living in a one-bedroom home when he won the Powerball. The New York Post said Castro also bought a vintage white Porsche for $250,000.
In September 2023, reports surfaced online of a third home in Bel-Air, California, a $47 million mansion in Los Angeles allegedly purchased by Castro from celebrity real estate agent Mauricio Umansky . The seven-bedroom, 11-bathroom home has a koi pond and infinity pool, offering a panoramic view of the city. Other features include DJ turntables, a Champagne room, glass walkway, wine cellar and (like his other California homes) a home theater. The bedrooms boast walk-in closets, oversized bathtubs and relaxing sitting areas.
However, a California firm claiming to represent Castro told the USA TODAY Network that Castro does not own the third home in California. However, the firm's representative did say that Castro does own the two homes previously mentioned in USA TODAY Network reports – the home in Hollywood Hills and the home in Altadena.
“Edwin Castro did not purchase and does not own the property located at 777 Sarbonne Road in Bel Air. Reports otherwise are completely false,” Terry Fahn of Sitrick and Co. told the USA TODAY Network.
A check on California property tax records does not list Castro as the owner of any of the houses that were tied to his name. The property tax records for all three sites list California Gov. code 6254.21, which is the privacy restriction for online publication, though the language says the code is mostly for elected officials.
Through Fahn, the $2.04 billion Powerball lottery winner said he only owns the Hollywood Hills and Altadena homes in California. Fahn also said Castro does not do news interviews.
The USA TODAY Network reached out to Umansky, CEO and founder of The Agency , a global marketing and sales organization.
"I'm writing to inform you that I did not represent Edwin Castro on the sale of 777 Sarbonne and that there was no transaction that I am aware of in Sept 2023," Umansky told the USA TODAY Network in an Oct. 1, 2024, email. "I only participated in the sale of the property that was recorded in June 2022, of which Mr. Castro was not a party. There have been no other sales records on title since June 2022."
Property records for 777 Sarbonne sent by Umansky were reviewed by the USA TODAY Network. Edwin Castro was never the owner.
Is it public record to know who won Powerball and Mega Millions lottery jackpots?
In California, it is public record to know the names of lottery jackpot winners. Winners, however, have the option to decline to appear publicly and provide written statements − such was the case with Edwin Castro and $1.586 billion Powerball winners Marvin and Mae Acosta, also of California.
It's slightly different in Florida, however: It is public record to know the names and identity of lottery jackpot winners unless the winnings are claimed via a trust, Florida Lottery officials have said. So while we may know who or what trust claimed a billion-dollar Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot in the Sunshine State, we may never know what their plans would be for the prize money.
Over the years, some billion-dollar lottery winners have opted not to make a public statement, but their name is on record, and some have remained anonymous because their state lottery allows it.
As of Oct. 3, 2024, there have been 11 Mega Millions and Powerball lottery jackpots that have surpassed $1 billion or more in the history of the games. Only once has a lottery prize reached $2 billion.
Of the small group of Powerball and Mega Millions billion-dollar lottery winners, it was likely life-changing to become an " almost billionaire" overnight .
When did lotto jackpots hit $1 billion or more? How many times has Mega Millions and Powerball lottery jackpots reached $2 billion?
As of Oct. 3, 2024, there have been 11 lottery jackpots that have reached or surpassed $1 billion. Only once has a jackpot surpassed $2 billion.
- $2.04 billion Powerball prize, Nov. 7, 2022, Edwin Castro of Altadena, California
- $1.73 billion Powerball prize, Oct. 11, 2023, Theodorus Struyck of California (ticket purchased at Midway Market in California)
- $1.586 billion Powerball prize, Jan. 13, 2016, Marvin and Mae Acosta of California, Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Melbourne Beach , Florida, and John and Lisa Robinson of Munford, Tennessee
- $1.58 billion Mega Millions prize, Aug. 8, 2023, Saltines Holdings LLC of Miami, Florida
- $1.537 billion Mega Millions prize, Oct. 23, 2018, won by an anonymous player in South Carolina
- $1.348 billion Mega Millions prize, Jan. 13, 2023, LaKoma Island Investments, LLC, with the ticket purchased in Lebanon, Maine
- $1.337 billion Mega Millions prize, July 29, 2022, won by an anonymous partnership with a ticket purchased in Des Plaines, Illinois
- $1.326 billion Powerball prize, April 6, 2024, Cheng and Duanpen Saephan and Laiza Chao of Oregon
- $1.128 billion Mega Millions prize, March 26, 2024, won by an anonymous winner in New Jersey with the ticket purchased at ShopRite Liquor No. 781 in Neptune Township, New Jersey
- $1.08 billion Powerball prize, July 19, 2023, Yanira Alvarez of California
- $1.050 billion Mega Millions prize, Jan. 22, 2021, won by the Wolverine FLL Club of Oakland County, Michigan
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang . Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper .
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: After $2.04 billion Powerball win, Edwin Castro bought 2 multimillion-dollar homes in 2 weeks
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