Edwin Castro made global history after claiming a record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever won. Castro purchased his winning ticket at Joe’s Service Center in his hometown of Altadena, California. Matching all six numbers (10, 33, 41, 47, 56, and Powerball 10) in the November 8, 2022 drawing, he brought an end to a 40-draw rollover streak. The gas station owner, Joe Chahayed, received a $1 million retailer bonus for selling the historic ticket.
California Lottery officials announced Castro as the sole winner on February 14, 2023. Though he declined to appear at the official press conference to protect his personal privacy, he released a written statement expressing his gratitude and celebrating that ticket sales during the jackpot run generated over $156 million for California’s public education system. Castro, an Eagle Scout who earned an architecture degree from Woodbury University, chose the single lump-sum payout of $997.6 million. Because California does not levy state tax on lottery prizes, his final cash payout totaled roughly $628.5 million after federal withholdings.
Following his win, Castro used a portion of his fortune to build an extensive real estate portfolio in Southern California, purchasing a $25.5 million estate in the Hollywood Hills, a $4 million Japanese-style home in Altadena for his parents, and a $47 million mansion in Bel Air. His win was briefly entangled in drama when an individual filed a lawsuit claiming the winning ticket had been stolen from him, but a Los Angeles judge officially dismissed the case due to a total lack of evidence, confirming Castro as the legitimate winner. Since claiming the record payout, Castro has focused on expanding his real estate investments, including purchasing fire-affected land lots in Los Angeles to rebuild family homes.