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Edwin Castro, the winner of the record-setting $2.04 billion Powerball drawing, was seen car shopping for luxury cars after his Malibu mansion was recently destroyed in the deadly Palisades fire last month.
Castro, 32, was seen in good spirits wearing sandals, a t-shirt and sweatpants while looking at vintage Porsches at the Sport Trend Auto Sales in Los Angeles earlier this month in photos shared by the U.S. Sun. Last month, Castro's $3.8 million home was reduced to concrete pillars and smoldering wood after the massive fire ravaged the area, according to photos obtained by the New York Post.
The Malibu mansion was one of several purchased by the 31-year-old lottery winner through an LLC in 2023, according to the U.S. Sun. Castro reportedly purchased a third mansion in Los Angeles in November, having already bought two others since collecting the lump sum payout of his historic lottery win, as well as a $4 million Japanese-inspired home for his parents.
Financial advisers, however, had recommended that lottery winners accept their winnings through annual payments and consult with a financial planner, tax lawyer or other expert to create a steady plan for their newfound wealth.
“Don’t make any visible life changes. Don’t quit your job, don’t go out and buy a Ferrari, don’t buy a mansion,” Emily Irwin, managing director of advice and planning at Wells Fargo’s investing and wealth management division, told Fortune. “Maybe you have student loans you want to pay off, that makes sense. But try to avoid that mega-purchase.”
Both the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots increase during each following game until there's a jackpot winning ticket matching all six numbers drawn, which includes the additional Mega Millions Gold Ball or Powerball in each respective game.