Powerball Jackpot Winner Loses $4 Million Malibu Home in Los Angeles Wildfires
The Powerball winner who claimed the biggest lottery prize in U.S. history in November 2022 has experienced a shift in fortune.
Edwin Castro from California won the Powerball drawing on Nov. 7, 2022, which featured a $2.04 billion jackpot. Castro chose the lump sum cash payment of around $997.6 million prior to federal taxes.
Following his unexpected wealth, the man from Altadena left his position as a mechanic to pursue a career as a real estate magnate in Southern California. His property acquisition frenzy featured an extravagant three-level mansion in the Hollywood Hills that he bought for $25.5 million, along with a $4 million Japanese-style residence in Altadena for his parents.
Castro's investment in California real estate also encompassed a $3.85 million property in Malibu featuring views of the Pacific Ocean close to Big Rock. The two-bedroom house that Castro bought in September 2023 tragically turned to ashes in the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires that ignited near Runyon Canyon on January 7. On January 8, the destructive fires reportedly destroyed Castro's home.
Castro, who has sought to steer clear of the press and endless paparazzi in Southern California since becoming wealthy, has not answered multiple inquiries for comments regarding his home loss.
Jackpot Winner's Dangerous Wagers
Castro reportedly follows financial guidance from his younger sibling, Jesse, who works as a banker. Alongside the three houses, the Powerball jackpot record winner has acquired multiple luxury cars, featuring a minimum of two classic Porsche 911s and a $500K Porsche 911 GT2RS.
In addition to Castro's love for collectible and high-performance Porsches and luxury properties, he has also developed a crush on Instagram model Payton Vincent. Numerous casual watchers on social media have wondered whether the frequently bikini-clad 24-year-old has genuine motives or is merely seeking the 32-year-old’s wealth.
Financial analysts have expressed worries regarding Castro's expenditures, starting with a lavish vacation to Fiji with his friends shortly after he secured the Powerball jackpot.
"The value of second or third homes has shrunk in the post-pandemic world, and luxury real estate is a risky investment, as it is illiquid and vulnerable to economic conditions outside the owner’s control,” Fortune reported in January. “For instance, the upkeep for Castro’s $25.5 million Hollywood Hills home — which has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a game room, wine cellar, home theater, wet bar, gym, cold plunge, steam shower, and sauna — was estimated to cost $255,000 to over $1 million per year.”
After federal taxes, Castro's total payout was roughly $628 million.
Settlement Reached in Lawsuit
Castro lost his residence in Malibu but achieved a significant legal win last October when a judge from the Los Angeles Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit from a claimant accusing Castro of stealing the Powerball ticket. Submitted in February 2023 by Jose Rivera, Judge Donna Hollingsworth determined that “players bear full responsibility for safeguarding their [lottery] tickets from theft, loss, damage, or destruction.”
Rivera asserted that his landlord had first removed the winning ticket from his residence. He was unable to clarify how it came to be with Castro, a man he had no previous connection to or even recognized.
