Life after profitable isn’t all the time a prize!
Pleasure over the thrilling $1.1 billion Powerball jackpot reached a fever pitch Monday — however historical past exhibits luck usually runs out for former large winners.
Previous $1 billion-plus Powerball winners embody a former California mechanic who has since been suffering from authorized bother and noticed his Malibu mansion burn down, a Laotian immigrant who’s preventing most cancers in Oregon, and a “humble” grandpa who’s reportedly nonetheless driving the identical rickety outdated truck.
Right here’s a take a look at the place they stand as we speak:
Edwin Castro, $2.04 billion
After his large windfall, Castro, 33 — who received the traditionally excessive jackpot in California in November 2022 — was hit with a lawsuit accusing him of stealing the profitable ticket.
Blackbelts / BACKGRID
The lawsuit, wherein Jose Rivera sought the entire jackpot cash, was dismissed in October 2024 — just some months earlier than the Palisades wildfire lowered Castro’s luxurious $3.8 million Malibu mansion to ashes.
However Castro’s post-lotto life hasn’t been utterly cursed. Final summer time, he went public with his new girlfriend, Payten Vincent, 24, a self-described bikini mannequin and poet and has been snapping up high-end rides, like a gleaming 911 Porsche Turbo Coupe from the Nineteen Eighties.
Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, $1.3 billion
In the meantime, fortunate participant Saephan — who received the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot in US historical past in April 2024 — mentioned just lately his ailing well being issues greater than all the cash on this planet.
Saephan, 47, of Portland, Oregon, who was recognized with most cancers 9 years in the past, is “nonetheless preventing” the illness regardless of his purpose of discovering “a very good physician” together with his new fortune, he mentioned in April.
Since his windfall, he has undergone two surgical procedures and has opted to remain within the Portland space and dwell a “easy life,” in response to an replace from OregonLottery.org
The previous aerospace machinist additionally handled himself to a neon-green Lamborghini, took a visit to Vegas and has invested in an area Thai restaurant group together with his dough.
Theodorus Struyck, $1.76 billion
Others winners live even much less glamorous lives. Struyck, 66, who hit the huge windfall with pals in California in October 2023, was reportedly noticed staying with household at a modest dwelling in San Diego — and nonetheless driving his usual truck — a yr after his large win.
The “humble” grandpa and retired UPS employee was additionally reportedly trying to find a million-dollar pad within the space in April 2024.
Obtained by NY Submit
Different winners
Two different billion-dollar-plus Powerball jackpots have hit earlier than — one for $1.58 billion in 2016 that was cut up between California, Florida and Tennessee, and the opposite in 2023 for a cool $1.08 billion. These winners, nevertheless, have managed to maintain their lives below wraps.
Powerball frenzy hits the Massive Apple
Excited New Yorkers flocked to outlets the place previous gamers have hit it large forward of Monday evening’s estimated $1.1 billion Powerball jackpot.
Eric, a 50-year-old visitors cop, spent $20 on Powerball tickets on the Hua Lian Grocery store in Flushing, Queens, the place a profitable $256 million ticket was bought in December.
“If there’s a excessive ratio of winners at this retailer, that is the one I’m going to. It’s the place the pot of gold is,” he mentioned. “I might retire early and deal with my household and pursue my desires.”
Tomas Cruz, 62, mentioned he deliberate to double the variety of tickets he often buys.
“Immediately to date I’ve already purchased seven. That is my fortunate retailer. I’ve to purchase three extra from my different fortunate shops,” he mentioned.
Louie Gerena, 56, a safety guard from Harlem, was fantasizing about profitable the jackpot so he might go away the Massive Apple for greener pastures.
“I’d in all probability go to Maine the place my daughters dwell. Have enjoyable, drive round city in my Ferrari, Bentley. You understand, and spoil my daughters and grandkids,” mentioned Gerena.
Gerena purchased his tickets from Esam Deli, which bought the dual profitable Mega Hundreds of thousands tickets for the Aug. 15 drawing on the identical day.
“I hope any individual that wins it does constructive issues with it,” mentioned Powerball participant S. Williams, of Harlem. “You understand, don’t waste it.”
