$2 billion Powerball Winner Can Keep His Winnings

A lawsuit that attempted to take away the $2 billion Powerball jackpot won by Edwin Castro has been thrown out.

Castro won his amazing jackpot in November 2022 but Jose Rivera claimed that he was the rightful owner of the winning ticket.

The 43-year-old said that Castro had not purchased the ticket that won him the Powerball jackpot.

Theft claim

RIvera had told the Pasadena Police Department that he bought the winning Powerball ticket a day before the draw took place. He claimed that it was his former landlord Urachi F. Romero (known as “Reggie”) who had stolen his ticket and then gave it to Castro.

David De Paoli is Castro’s attorney and said he witnessed his client buying the winning Powerball ticket. He added there was CCTV footage that proved this and it was “crystal clear” Castro owned the ticket.

An investigation took place but it was Rivera who found himself in trouble. He was charged with filing a false police report.

September 30 saw his case dismissed by a Los Angeles County Judge.  Making his decision, the judge stated that “the person in possession of a winning lottery ticket is the presumptive owner/winner.”  

He had made an initial ruling in August but with Rivera not responding to that, it became final on the last day of September and Castro will now keep his Powerball winnings.

Luxury purchases galore

When he claimed his jackpot, Castro chose to accept his winnings as a one-off lump sum payment. He received $997 million after taxes had been paid.

Since then, he’s been spending his Powerball winnings on many luxury items. These have included buying homes not just for himself but his parents too. He bought a $25 million house in Hollywood Hills and then spent $4 million on one in Altadena for his mother and father.

Classic cars have been purchased by the Powerball winner   and several holidays have been enjoyed.

Monday’s Powerball draw ended in a rollover. The next draw is on Wednesday with a $336 million jackpot.

Get tickets today from Lottery24.