The winner of a record $2 billion Powerball jackpot has been photographed for the first time, nearly three months after his life was dramatically changed for good.
Edwin Castro won the largest lottery prize in US history last year but did not claim it until February 2023, and opted for a one-time lump sum payout.
He gave half of his winnings to the California public school system and kept a whopping $997.6 million to himself.
He has not done any media interviews since his life-changing win, but he did issue a statement, which Powerball officials read when he was announced as the winner of the lottery.
“As much as I am shocked and ecstatic to have won the Powerball drawing, the real winner is the California public school system,” he said in the statement.
“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.”
“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,” he said.
Castro was photographed taking out a large envelope of cash from a Chase bank on Wednesday, April 26th, with his newly recruited security team protecting him.
The lucky 30-year-old wore a quarter-zip Under Armour shirt, sweatpants, and flip-flops in the photos released on social media.
Following his win, Castro has since invested in real estate as he acquired two multi-million-dollar properties in just one month.
In March, he paid $25.5 million for a Hollywood Hills estate in California and $4 million for a mansion with views of the San Gabriel Mountains in March.
The less expensive house is in Castro’s hometown of Altadena, not far from the gas station where he bought his winning Powerball ticket.
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The properties are a massive upgrade from his former one-bedroom home in Altadena (pictured below).
Castro also bought a $250,000 vintage Porsche 911 with a friend around town.
