The record-breaking Powerball jackpot of $2.04 billion finally has a winner – Edwin Castro of California. On Tuesday, the California Lottery Director Alva Johnson announced that Castro had come forward to collect his winnings.
Castro chose to accept his winnings in a lump sum, for a total of nearly $1 billion. Though his name and how he accepted his winnings are public record under California law, no other information about Castro – including his age, city of residence or any other identifiers – was revealed.
The winning ticket was purchased at Joe’s Mobile Service, a gas station in Altadena, and the owner of the store, Joseph Chahayed, received a $1-million check for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
The odds of winning the jackpot were 1 in 292 million, according to the California Lottery. California public schools from kindergarten to university level received a total of $156.3 million alongside Castro’s winnings.
“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,” Castro said in a statement.
Jackpot winners have a full calendar year to come forward, but Castro waited just three months.
The announcement of Castro’s win marks a historic day for the California Lottery and is an incredible testament to the power of luck. For Castro and all the lucky winners of the Powerball, these wins are sure to bring happiness and joy.
