$2B California Powerball Winner Edwin Castro Spotted Cashing out at Bank With Newly Hired Bodyguards

Edwin Castro, the California Powerball winner who won the record-setting $2.04 billion jackpot in November, was seen cashing out in a Chase bank on Wednesday while flashing a wide grin.

According to New York Post, Castro claimed his winnings in February and chose a one-time lump-sum payment option of $997.6 million, which he first spent on two multimillion-dollar homes in California in just one month.

The California Powerball winner now has 24/7 security, with three guards protecting him and his home around the clock.

Since winning the Powerball, Castro had not done any media interviews except for a statement that California Lottery officials read on his behalf when they announced the winner.

In the statement, Castro said he was "shocked" and "ecstatic" over his win on the Powerball lottery. However, he noted that the California public school system was the real winner.

Castro said the mission of the California Lottery, which is to give supplemental funding for the state's public education, "makes this a huge win for the state."

He added that for someone like him who also received the rewards of being educated in the California public education system, "it's gratifying to hear that, as a result of my win, the California school system greatly benefits as well."

What Did California Powerball Winner Edwin Castro Buy?

Aside from the two properties he bought after claiming his Powerball winnings, Edwin Castro was also seen driving a vintage Porsche while he was leaving the California bank on Wednesday.

Daily Mail reported that his guard trailed behind him and went inside his $250,000 white convertible.

Castro's wealth is now centered on his real estate purchases, with the $4 million Los Angeles home and another $25.5 million estate in the Hollywood Hills, where his neighbors are Ariana Grande and Jimmy Kimmel.

The $25.5 million mansion showcases five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, with an expansive living space of 13,500 square feet. He bought it with a slight discount after it was initially listed for $29.5 million. It was reportedly created by Roman James Design, according to New York Post.

It also has entertaining amenities such as a game room, a wine cellar, a movie theater, a bar, and a fitness studio. Castro's other home was a $4 million property in his hometown of Altadena, near the gas station where he bought his Powerball ticket.

The second property has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. It is a Japanese-inspired home with high ceilings, crisp white walls, and minimalist light fixtures. The U-shaped mansion, built in 1953, has a pond, patio, and saltwater swimming pool.

California Powerball Jackpot Winner Sued

California Lottery officials identified Edwin Castro as the winner of the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history and the largest ever for Powerball.

They said Castro matched all six numbers in the November 8 Powerball drawing. However, a man claiming that the winning Powerball ticket was stolen from him has sued Castro.

According to the court documents obtained by TMZ, Jose Rivera said he bought the Powerball ticket from Joe's Service Center in Altadena on November 7, the day before the actual drawing.

Rivera noted that a man, identified only as "Reggie," stole the ticket from him the same day he bought it. After the winning numbers were drawn, he said he asked Reggie to return the ticket, but he refused.

He said Reggie even said it was not a winner, and if it did win, he agreed to give up half. However, Rivera noted that the man also threatened to destroy the Powerball winning ticket if he did not split the massive prize.

Rivera said he "refused to be blackmailed" and reported this theft incident to the police and the California Lottery. ABC 7 reported that the lawsuit named California Lottery, Reggie, and Castro, as defendants.

Rivera said he submitted a claim form to the California Lottery, asking to conduct an investigation before paying out the winnings as the ticket was stolen.

Rivera had asked the court for damages and to declare him the Powerball winner of the $2.04 billion grand prize.

But in a statement to FOX 11, California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker said their office remains confident that Castro is "the rightful winner" of the $2.04 billion prize.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Winner of California's Record $2.04 Billion Powerball Identified as Edwin Castro - From FOX 11 Los Angeles