Edwin Castro, the winner of the world's largest jackpot in a lottery game, was photographed with a broad smile while walking into Chase Bank alongside a friend. The 30-year-old was spotted driving his luxury, £200k vintage Porsche before stopping by the bank to withdraw some cash.
Last year, Castro won $2 billion (nearly £1.6bn) in the Powerball lottery, setting a new record for the largest gambling prize ever. This prize is bigger than the combined total ever won on Mega Moolah by Microgaming.
Rather than being paid in installments, Castro received his winnings in a lump sum, leaving him with a hefty $1 billion after taxes and so on. His net worth grew overnight to surpass famous stars like Tom Cruise, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Madonna.
Castro won the lottery prize in November last year. However, his identity was revealed in February, stating that he wanted to maintain his privacy after being "shocked and ecstatic" about winning the prize.
Besides marking his success by acquiring a vintage luxury car, Edwin Castro also purchased two expensive properties in California, United States. The $25.5 million luxurious estate in Hollywood Hills has a game room, gym, wine cellar, spa, infinity pool, seven bathrooms, and five bedrooms.
Castro also owns a $4 million mansion with a scenic view of the San Gabriel mountains. Interestingly, this property is near the gas station where the lucky winner bought his lottery ticket. The Japanese-style house boasts a saltwater pool, five bedrooms, and four bathrooms.
As expected, the lottery winner is conscious of his safety. Reports say he has employed three non-nonsense security guards who take 24/7 shifts.
Although he hasn't talked to major news houses after the win, Castro told Powerball:
“As much as I am shocked and ecstatic to have won the Powerball drawing, the real winner is the California public school system. The mission of the California Lottery, which is to provide supplemental funding for California public education - both public schools and colleges - makes this a huge win for the state.”
He continued:
“As someone who received the rewards of being educated in the California public education system, it's gratifying to hear that, as a result of my win, the California school system greatly benefits as well.”
Edwin Castro's win is a testament to how the popular lottery operator has created overnight millionaires. Initially, Castro was living in a small one-bedroom house.
