Edwin Castro is a man from California. He won the biggest lottery jackpot ever in the United States. The prize was $2.04 billion from the Powerball drawing.
He bought the winning ticket on November 7, 2022. He bought it at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California. This is his hometown. He matched all five numbers plus the Powerball.
He did not claim his prize right away. He waited almost three months. He finally came forward on February 14, 2023. That is Valentine’s Day. He did not appear on camera or take photos. He chose to stay private.
He took his prize as a lump sum. This means he got all the money at once. The amount was $997.6 million from the California Lottery. Later reports say he actually received about $768 million after taxes.
How Has He Spent His Money?
Edwin Castro has bought several expensive properties. He bought a huge estate in Hollywood Hills. He paid $25.5 million for it in March 2023. The mansion is very large. It has five bedrooms, a movie theater, a wine cellar, and a big garage.
He also bought a second home in Altadena. This cost $4 million. It is a Japanese-style house with a pool and mountain views. Before winning, he lived in a small one-bedroom home.
He bought a beach house in Malibu too. This cost $3.8 million in September 2023. It had two bedrooms and ocean views. Sadly, this house was destroyed in a wildfire in January 2025.
He also bought a vintage white Porsche car. It cost $250,000.
Recent News About Edwin Castro
In October 2025, he spoke to the Wall Street Journal. He said he bought 15 lots of land in Altadena. He paid $10 million. This was after the California wildfires. He has a 10-year plan for real estate in his hometown.
He lost his Malibu home in the Palisades wildfire. His other homes were under evacuation orders but were not badly damaged.
The store where he bought the ticket, Joe’s Service Center, is still open. It was not damaged in the fires. Some people now touch its window for good luck.
Who is Edwin Castro? Is He a Billionaire?
Even with his huge win, Edwin Castro is not a billionaire. He missed that title by less than $3 million. But he is still the largest lottery winner in U.S. history. He also has a security team with him all the time for protection.
He lives a private life despite his fame. He remains a record-holder and a very wealthy man from a single lucky ticket.