Winner of world's largest jackpot living in luxury
By Kate Northrop
The winner of the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot is ready to live it up in luxury, having already purchased a $25.5 million Hollywood Hills mansion.
Last month, Altadena resident Edwin Castro claimed the world's largest jackpot and is wasting no time in putting the unfathomable prize to good use.
The last several months have taken Castro's life in a wild direction, with the lottery winner now the proud owner of a three-story contemporary mansion in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, living close to the likes of Ariana Grande, Dakota Johnson, and Jimmy Kimmel.
While Castro has kept himself hidden away from the public eye, declining to appear at the California Lottery's press conference, the $25.5 million hillside home begs to differ. The mansion stands sits nestled into the side of a cliff, boasting over 13,500 square feet of living space, five bedrooms, and six bathrooms, and two powder rooms.
The house was designed and built in 2022 by architect Roman James and was showcased in the Robb Report, a luxury lifestyle magazine featuring various products like cars, airplanes, boats, watches, and real estate. The home was originally listed at $29.95 million, but Castro scooped it up at a $4.45 million discount.
The main level is comprised of an expansive living room graced by a massive modern fireplace and a kitchen showcasing black granite countertops on opposite ends. A seamless glass wall offers a view out to the infinity pool and full outdoor kitchen, the L.A. skyline, and even the Pacific Ocean.
"Roman James did a great job of pulling the expansive views into the home to create an intimate backdrop for moments alone or with guests," Stefan Pommepuy of The Agency told The New York Post. "It's sexy and cool, but still feels like a place to call home."
Other notable highlights on the upper and lower floors include a gym, cold plunge pool, wine cellar, movie theater, and dry sauna, topped off with a private balcony in the master suite and a rooftop deck.
There's plenty of room for parking, should Castro choose to add some cars to his garage space. He'll have two separate garages that can hold up to seven cars, and if that's not enough, he has a flat motor court to house several more.
The property is situated above Chateau Marmot, a famed hotel that also doubles as a go-to hangout spot for celebrities. Whether Castro decides to step out and venture into the throes of his budding luxury lifestyle, his new home surely has enough amenities and space that would make it difficult to leave.
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
Thank to Win$500Quick for the tip.
What is the word when someone suddenly becomes extremely wealthy, yet does not fit the lifestyle of the rich and famous? Help me out!
nouveau riche?
Looks like Ed is going live it up!
Buying a $29 million house from a $2 investment is one heck of a parlay.
Just FYI for non-Californians commenting, homes like this in this area are not always owner-occupied. They can be rented out for high five-figures at least. Renting a mansion is not at all unusual in the LA area.
Good for him,enjoy it
Oh this guy is f*cked. lol Everyone knows where he lives now. This won't end well.
Maybe Dan Bilzerian can rent from him! LOL
Really odd that he didn't buy it privately through an LLC. I wonder who's advising him — or if he doesn't have someone advising him.
if you have to ask ......
Spending like this so fast and spending it publicly is not the wisest of ideas. But to each his own. I wish him no ill will, but I wonder like Todd who in the world is advising him; they need to be terminated straight way!
This guy is going to have a lot of annual property TAXES to pay on a $25 Million home in Los Angeles. Also, even though the home is situated above a Hollywood Hills Celebrity Hotel hangout, Chateau Marmot, this guy is not a celebrity, he's probably just a regular person. He might not "fit in" with a celebrity crowd, even though he is now rich.
That's why they call it "dumb luck". Now he can fit in with the rest of the weirdos in Hollywood.
I'm sure he doesn't care. I'm happy for him. Nice place!
You think it's an investment property rather than a home he plans to live in? I hope so, because it was not hard to find the exact address, LOL. All the houses there look like they're about to slide downhill. But hey he could be a seasoned house flipper for all we know.
I'm glad he is living it up. It would be boring not to spend the money. I hope his next purchase is a Ferrari. -op
The Beverly Hillbillies
or
The Jefferson's
I think he wants everyone to know his name. The look at me now winners tend to get themselves into trouble. Not a good sign. Could have bought it through a llc.
I would not assume he lives in it. Lots of vacations homes like this in the rich parts of LA are listed on VRBO for several thousand a night and from a tourist's point of view it's a great location.
And yes, they can slide downhill!
https://www.ocregister.com/2017/01/31/laurel-canyon-landslide-leaves-several-homes-in-peril/
Sounds like he's going on a spending spree. I just hope he doesn't go broke like so many others have.
One thing about a big house like that is not only the purchasing price but the upkeep as well. I'm sure the utilities are pretty high for a house that big, along with general maintenance(grounds keeping, cleaning, etc.) and property taxes.
Maybe he wants to be around the rich and famous. Even if I had that much money, I doubt I'd fit in with celebrities or other people like that. It takes more than money to be in with that crowd.
Someone who wins the lottery won't fit in with the money crowd because of how they got their money and won't fit in with the rest because they have so much money. Don't forget, all the people who want to be friends just because of the money and will be gone when the money is gone and the friends that are lost because they want money and the winner won't give it to them.
It makes me wonder if winning a large lottery jackpot may make someone secure for life but at the same time, makes that person an outcast.
Something to think about.
Wow!!!.........how about 3.5 million for the house and 22 million for the breathtaking view? When you zoom in the view is impressive. Congrats to MR. Castro. I hope he does not follow in the footsteps of the legendary David Lee Edwards and feel that being rich means buying a yard full of Corvettes and hanging around unsavory characters for some reason. Too much attention brings out certain people that you would prefer not to meet.
He's living it up. You never know what life will bring you. I hope he enjoys every minute of his wealth.
From the LA Times: "Castro, who chose to collect the money as a lump sum of about $997.6 million before taxes, bought the modern mansion under a limited liability company, records show."
live the life, richie rich.
He bought the property through an LLC. Some people are just nosey that's why the identity of the buyer was revealed, given that property records are public.
I don't know why people here always assume that winners like Edwin Castro are "stupid" or have to "fit in". He has $600M left. He can do what he wants. It took him 3 months to claim the jackpot, he definitely has team of lawyers and financial advisors.
I agree, live it up, congrats to the lucky guy.
Source?
5 years from now we'll be reading a story on this winner about how he's dead broke lol
The guy purchased a 25 million dollar home for 4 million. Just think the number of people who looked and said wow what a steal if I only had 4 million. Is the owner responsible for the taxes on the value of the property 25 mil. Or just the purchase price of 4 mil.???
No-The home was originally listed at $29.95 million, but Castro scooped it up at a $4.45 million discount. The discount was 4.45 million-not the purchase price.