Powerball winner Edwin Castro “disappeared” from social media after hitting the $2.04 billion jackpot and took his friends on a luxury trip to Fiji to celebrate before his name was announced.
The Los Angeles resident, 31, drew the number for the biggest US jackpot of all time on November 8, 2022 but the public did not know his identity until California Lottery officials made the announcement in February, according to state lottery law.
Friends said that immediately after winning, Castro kept his newfound wealth – totaling $997.6 million after he chose the lump sum payment option – largely a secret.
“I noticed he disappeared for a few months from his social media after he won, which was smart,” a source told The Post.
Castro enjoyed his last few weeks of anonymity by treating some of his close friends to travel to Fiji before his name was revealed to the public.
In a photo seen by The Post, a smiling Castro holds a large fish he caught on one trip.
Powerball millionaire Edwin Castro poses with a new catch during his secret vacation to Fiji right after his win Edwin Castro (second from left) and friends at the exclusive Cloud 9 floating bar off the coast of Fiji Cloud 9 bar is a tropical oasis. Fiji beach (stock photo) Cloud 9 Fiji
“Thought I might post my trip to Fiji, might delete later,” the billionaire joked in the caption of his Jan. 20 photo.
Responding to a friend’s comment below, he wrote: “Go into my stomach, that’s what I tell sashimi.”
Another photo shows Castro and his friends in swimming shorts posing at the exclusive Cloud 9 bar, billed as ‘Fiji’s floating paradise’.
Castro also posted a picture of himself drinking from a coconut Cloud 9 lists itself as a “Hub for artists, underground musicians, lovers and dreamers” on its website (stock photo) Cloud 9 Fiji
The bar is a two-story floating oasis with drinks, snorkeling and a pizzeria on board. It is only accessible by boat and is located about an hour from Denarau Harbor on the island’s mainland.
Cloud 9 lists itself as: “A renowned hub for artists, underground musicians, lovers, dreamers and thrill seekers from around the world,” on its website, adding it’s “more than just a floating bar; it’s a vibe.”
It also said that the bar was featured on the reality show “Survivor”.
As soon as he returned from his trip, Castro became serious. Another first step he took, sources said, was to hire a bodyguard for him and his family, who at the time were still living in their three-bedroom family home near the La Crescenta, California suburb where he grew up.
Since then, Castro, a qualified architect, and his brother Jesse, who is a banker, have worked together to manage his fortune.
As soon as Castro’s name became public, spam messages from scammers quickly took off on social media and targeted Castro’s friends and family.
“I remember receiving a spam message from someone claiming to be himself and saying he was giving money,” the source said.
Powerball winner Edwin Castro was a linebacker when he was a student at Crescent Valley High School in La Crescenta, Calif. Crescent Valley High School Yearbook Edwin Castro Crescent Valley High School Yearbook On the one-year anniversary of his $2 billion Powerball win, Edwin Castro was photographed leaving his Hollywood Hills home driving a green 1970s Porsche 911 SC. Sun US/MEGA Powerball winner Edwin Castro was pictured meeting with a realtor in Los Angeles in December. US Sun / MEGA
“You are blessed, I’m EDWIN CASTRO from California, Powerball jackpot winner,” said one of the fraudulent messages seen by The Post. “I have spread most of my wealth over several charities and organizations. I have voluntarily decided to donate a total of $200,000 to you as one of the 300 chosen people.”
Castro was also charged with a lawsuit filed by a man claiming to be the rightful owner of the winning ticket.
In his complaint, Jose Rivera claimed that he was the one who bought the ticket which was allegedly stolen by his former host, Urachi “Reggie” Romero.
Romero, 47, told The Post he believed his former roommate was the person who bought the ticket from Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, Calif.
While it remains unclear how the ticket ended up in Castro’s possession, Rivera appeared in court last week and doubled down on his claim — despite allegedly filing a false police report last month regarding the ticket.
One of Edwin Castro’s major purchases is this 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom mansion in the star-studded Hollywood Hills. Some of her closest neighbors include Ariana Grande, Dakota Johnson and Jimmy Kimmel. Simon Berlin/MEGA
He faces up to six months in jail, probation and a fine of up to $1,000 for allegedly filing a false police report if convicted.
A trial date has not yet been set in the lawsuit, but the California lottery commission has said it is confident Castro is the rightful winner of the prize and said he passed a series of rigorous tests to ensure he was the rightful winner.
Since his big win, Castro has been seen driving vintage sports cars and has made several big real estate purchases, including a $25 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills and a $47 million Bel Air estate.
He also bought his parents a $4 million home in Altadena that features a Japanese-inspired design.
“He’s very committed to what he’s doing,” a source close to Castro told The Post. “Whatever he spends, he knows that he will profit from it.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
