$338M NJ Powerball winner pledges to pay rent for his entire block

Mar 31, 2013, 3:11 pm (294 comments)

Powerball

Powerball winner Pedro Quezada is hosting a rent party — for his entire block.

A close friend of the newly minted megamillionaire said Quezada promised to temporarily cover the housing costs for residents in the Passaic, N.J., neighborhood that housed his bodega.

"He said he's going to pay the rent for everybody here on this block for at least a month or two months," the friend said Saturday outside Quezada's Apple Deli Grocery. "He's such a good guy."

Word of Quezada's magnanimous gesture left several of his neighbors stunned.

"God bless him, and thank you," crowed Richard Delgado, 45, after learning of the pledge.

John Koblarz's eyes lit up when he heard Quezada had offered to cover his neighbors' rents.

But then the 78-year-old landlord came to his senses.

"Oh, he can't afford to pay mine," Koblarz said. "Mine is $20,000. I own the building!"

Quezada, whose generosity is now the stuff of legend, was nowhere to be found Saturday, five days after he claimed the $338 million Powerball jackpot. But the Dominican immigrant was still the talk of the neighborhood.

Residents said the hardworking Quezada, 45, is considered a local hero.

"He's somebody who needs it, not like the people who had millions already and won it," said Delgado. Cheech Rivera, 57, said he hardly ever saw Quezada or his wife because they were always too busy working to attend summer block parties.

"They struggled. They are always constantly working," said Rivera. "They don't really have time to get together with us."

Piles of mail were stacked outside Quezada's home, including a letter from a Morgan Stanley adviser with a handwritten note on the envelope.

"I want to help you," it read.

Quezada put his bodega up for sale just two days after scoring the fourth-largest Powerball payout in history. The freshly retired Quezada opted for a lump-sum payout that will provide a $152 million payday.

And he's already taken care of the $29,000 he owed in child support, according to his friend.

Officials in Passaic County said Saturday that a child-support warrant was stayed until 1:30 p.m. on Monday, when Quezada is due to appear in court.

Thanks to Original Bey for the tip.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

whiteballz's avatarwhiteballz

I have a feeling he is going to be broke in 5 years.

New York's avatarNew York

God bless. I was quick to judge but Pedro is very kind. This is why he won because he was the right person. He payed his debt and he's planting seeds of good. He will prosper. An inspiration.

emilyg's avataremilyg

He should pay his back child support.

New York's avatarNew York

Quote: Originally posted by emilyg on Mar 31, 2013

He should pay his back child support.

In the story, it says he's take care of the $29,000 situation. He just has to go to court.

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

Quote: Originally posted by whiteballz on Mar 31, 2013

I have a feeling he is going to be broke in 5 years.

Ha! that's just what I said on the LP facebook page

VenomV12

Sigh, this dude...

He is clearly not that bright. First it will be this, then buying cars and homes for people, investing in friend's "business plans" they have etc etc etc. I gave him 5 years initially until broke, I have now revised my estimates to three years. 

Pedro needs to seriously hire him a good lawyer and financial advisor and learn to say no and put himself on a budget. People have this illusion that having a lot of money suddenly makes them financial geniuses, and it does not, which is the major problem of most pro-athletes, not to mention everyone around them becomes yes men and no one tells them they are wrong or not to do something. 

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

he is the kind of person i feel even if he hired those people he wouldn't listen to them.

rexbell

Quote: Originally posted by VenomV12 on Mar 31, 2013

Sigh, this dude...

He is clearly not that bright. First it will be this, then buying cars and homes for people, investing in friend's "business plans" they have etc etc etc. I gave him 5 years initially until broke, I have now revised my estimates to three years. 

Pedro needs to seriously hire him a good lawyer and financial advisor and learn to say no and put himself on a budget. People have this illusion that having a lot of money suddenly makes them financial geniuses, and it does not, which is the major problem of most pro-athletes, not to mention everyone around them becomes yes men and no one tells them they are wrong or not to do something. 

I agree and I hope either he or some of his so called friends or family is reading this.
These people and media especially will ride him until he is dead or broke whatever comes first.
He needs to disappear for a few months until this dies down or seek professional advise quickly!!
Every thing he does is going to be in the media, especially the negative.  He has to realize people (media) hate success stories and most people love to see people fail when it comes to lottery winnings.  I will not even bring race into the picture, but yeah people are just waiting for more negative so it can be posterized.
It is already happening, he came forward as the winner last week and we have two or three media stories about him already.

lele100

The size of his heart will be his downfall, if he does not put a cap on it. 

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Lets not be so negative. This guy is doing a good thing and should be commended for it. For 2 months, his neighbors will not worry about rent. Great!

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

wait a minute,  even the landlord thinks hes entitled to a cut?

Party1377

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Mar 31, 2013

Lets not be so negative. This guy is doing a good thing and should be commended for it. For 2 months, his neighbors will not worry about rent. Great!

I agree I think people here are jumping to thinking he will lose his money for no reason. And I am pretty sure I read some place he did get a financial advisor. He does need to learn to say no to people for sure. But doing this for his neighbors for a month or 2 won't have him go broke.

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Mar 31, 2013

Lets not be so negative. This guy is doing a good thing and should be commended for it. For 2 months, his neighbors will not worry about rent. Great!

I Agree! It all sounds crazy, but anyone in his position might do the same thing.

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by Lucky4Life on Mar 31, 2013

Ha! that's just what I said on the LP facebook page

Wait...... LP has a FB page?

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