LA Judge Dismisses $2bn Claim Against Powerball Winner Edwin Castro

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has dismissed the lawsuit against Edwin Castro, the man who won the $2.04 billion Powerball, the largest lottery prize in history, in a case that has stirred a lot of controversy in the media.

The lawsuit, originally filed in February 2023 by landscape gardener Jose Rivera, claimed that Rivera was the rightful winner of the jackpot. 

A Tale of Theft and Blackmail

Rivera alleged that his former landlord, Urachi F. “Reggie” Romero, stole the winning ticket the night before the November 2023 draw and attempted to blackmail him into splitting the winnings. 

Rivera further stated that he had no knowledge of how the ticket eventually ended up with Castro, a man he had never met before.

In August, Judge Donna Hollingsworth ruled that lottery players are solely responsible for safeguarding their tickets against theft or loss. 

She also emphasized that the person in possession of a winning lottery ticket is presumed to be the rightful owner.

Case Closed

The judge did not address the truthfulness of Rivera’s allegations. Since the plaintiff did not file a response to the ruling, this led to the case being officially dismissed. 

“Judgment shall be entered in favor of Defendant Edwin Castro, and against Plaintiff Jose Rivera. Plaintiff shall receive nothing from Defendant Edwin Castro,” the judge’s ruling read. 

With the ruling being final, and the case being finally closed, Castro can continue to enjoy his newfound fortune. 

So far, the winner invested in luxury homes and vintage cars, and reportedly started dating Instagram model Payten Vincent, whom he met at a Malibu event hosted by none other than iconic Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani.

Ex-Convict Speculations 

In May, Romero told The New York Post that he believed his tenant, Rivera, did possess the winning ticket, though he denied stealing it or knowing Castro. 

Romero later speculated that the ticket might have been taken by an acquaintance, an ex-convict referred to as “Midget,” who allegedly had ties to Castro’s family. 

However, these claims have been denied by Castro and his legal team, with the California Lottery standing firm that Castro was the legitimate winner of the life-changing prize.

Castro’s attorney, David De Paoli, stated that there is video footage of Castro purchasing the winning ticket. The California Lottery has not shared the said video with the public as of yet. 

In November 2023, Rivera was formally charged by Pasadena Police with wasting police resources, yet he remained defiant, telling Casino.org that “God knows the truth” and expressing continued belief in his claims.

Inspiring Win 

The record-breaking win is sure to remain in the public eye, inspiring many to take a chance at claiming the life-changing prize. 

In June, a lucky woman from Grand Rapids won $1 million at the Powerball draw, describing the feeling as “unbelievable.”

In the meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot reached a whopping $275 million for Wednesday’s drawing after no one matched all six numbers from Monday night’s drawing.

Here are the winning numbers for Wednesday night: 1, 2, 21, 37, and 43, with 21 as the Powerball and 3X as the Power Play.