Edwin Castro, Record Powerball Winner, Faces Home Loss in California Wildfires and Pursues Real Estate Development
Edwin Castro, the sole winner of the record-setting $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot on November 7, 2022, has experienced significant developments since claiming his prize. After opting for a lump sum payment of nearly $1 billion, Castro purchased multiple multimillion-dollar properties in California. In January 2025, one of his luxury homes, a beachfront property in Malibu, was destroyed by the Palisades wildfire. Despite this loss, Castro has expressed intentions to rebuild and has embarked on a substantial real estate venture. According to an October 2025 Wall Street Journal report, he acquired 15 lots in his hometown of Altadena for $10 million, outlining a 10-year real estate development plan. Castro claimed his prize on February 14, 2023, receiving a check for $997.6 million, though the Wall Street Journal later reported he walked away with $768 million. His other properties, including estates in Hollywood Hills and Altadena, did not sustain major damage from the wildfires.
