Man who won $2,000,000,000 on Powerball sparks major debate after people learn what he’s spending his money

In 2022, Edwin Castro bought a Powerball lottery ticket at a gas station — something millions of people do every day. He had no idea that this simple purchase would completely change his life. That ticket ended up being worth $2 billion, making him one of the biggest lottery winners in history.

In February 2023, Castro officially claimed his prize and decided to take the lump-sum payout, which was about $997.6 million before taxes. After taxes, he was left with around $628.5 million — still an incredible amount of money.

Like many new millionaires, Castro started spending his winnings on things most people can only dream of. He bought luxury homes, expensive cars, and went on lavish vacations. He even hired private security to keep himself and his loved ones safe.

Unfortunately, his good fortune took a hit earlier this year when wildfires swept through parts of Los Angeles, including his area. His home was among thousands destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires, which left many California families without a place to live.

Wanting to help rebuild his community, Castro decided to use some of his winnings for good. He spent $10 million to buy 15 pieces of land in his hometown of Altadena, which had been badly burned in the fires. He’s now one of several investors planning to rebuild homes there.

However, not everyone is happy about it. Some locals worry that wealthy investors like Castro will change the character of Altadena forever. They fear that the new homes will drive up prices and push longtime residents out. This concern has even led to an online petition demanding new laws to stop large investors from taking over disaster-hit neighborhoods.

Castro says that isn’t his goal. He’s made it clear that while he’s not giving away homes for free, he also isn’t trying to make a huge profit. He says he wants to sell the new houses at fair market prices to families who actually plan to live in the community, not to people or companies looking to rent them out.

“I’m not building these homes just to give them away,” he told *The Wall Street Journal.* “But the profit margin doesn’t need to be outrageous.”

Even so, his project has sparked mixed reactions online. Some people criticize him, saying he’s taking advantage of a tragedy. Others argue that, since he grew up in Altadena, it’s better for a local like him to invest than for big corporations to come in and buy everything.

Castro has responded to the skepticism with humor, saying he understands people’s doubts but insists he has a good team helping him stay on track. He also says he wants the rebuilt area to “feel like the old neighborhood” — a place that still has the heart and character of the community he grew up in.

What do you think about what he’s doing with his money?