Billionaire Powerball winner Edwin Castro believes divine guidance led him to the biggest jackpot in lottery history, and is one of the reasons he refuses to back down when hit with claims he didn’t actually buy the ticket.
“God gave it [the win] because He knows [Castro] will be a good manager with him and use him to help others,” a source told The Post.
The insider added Castro, 31, remained calm knowing he was being sued for claiming the winning Powerball ticket was bought by another man named Jose Rivera.
“He can give them whatever amount needs to be made [the lawsuit] away, but that’s what they want,” the source said.
“But if you do that, you are open to everyone who comes to you with their hands.”
Castro won a record-breaking $2.04 billion jackpot last November after buying a ticket from Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California. The 31-year-old decided to take a lump sum of $997.6 million.
The California State Lottery Commission says it has obtained video of the ticket purchase from the store, but has not released it publicly.
Powerball winner Edwin Castro is pictured meeting with a realtor in Los Angeles on Dec. 5, 2023. Matahari / MEGA US Powerball winner Edwin Castro bought his $2.04 billion winning ticket at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California. Business owner Joe Chahayed holds a bush outside his store on Nov. 8, 2022. AP Jose Rivera is suing Edwin Castro and his former landlord Reggie Romero, claiming he bought the winning Lotto ticket. Rivera has been charged with filing a false criminal report. Sun US/MEGA
California Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Becker told The Post she could not comment on the video because of ongoing litigation launched by Rivera, but said they were “absolutely confident” Castro was the “rightful winner.”
Rivera had claimed he was the one who bought the winning ticket from Joe’s Service Center, which was later allegedly stolen by his former landlord, Urachi “Reggie” Romero.
Sources told The Post Castro had no relationship with either man.
Pasadena police have since charged Rivera with filing a false police report, The US Sun reported earlier this month.
Powerball winner Edwin Castro is an Eagle Scout. Sources said Castro had a “strong faith” and read the Bible.
Meanwhile, Rivera’s latest attorney, Estela Richeda, appeared in an Alhambra court and told the judge she must resign because there was an “irreconcilable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship” and other “ethical considerations,” according to court documents reviewed by the Post.
A source said Castro, who studied architecture at Woodbury University in Burbank, California, “continues to pray, read his Bible,” and has made plans to donate to various charities because he is determined to do good with his wealth.
Just weeks before Lotto officials made his identity public, as required by California law, Castro entertained a group of close friends on a trip to Fiji where they relaxed and partied at the exclusive Cloud 9 bar, known locally as “Fiji’s floating paradise .”
Billionaire Powerball winner Edwin Castro, second from left, entertains friends on a Fijian vacation in January. Powerball winner Edwin Castro enjoyed coconut water during his exclusive vacation in Fiji.
Castro’s generosity and charity work did not surprise his friends. The 31-year-old is known in his neighborhood as a student athlete, who spends a lot of time serving the community as an Eagle Scout.
A friend who grew up with Castro told The Post that the 31-year-old “was always a good kid, got good grades and always did community service. You don’t get to the Eagle Scout level without spending a lot of time helping the community.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
