$2.04 billion Powerball winner snaps up $25.5 MILLION Hollywood mansion

The winner of the biggest ever lottery prize will soon count Ariana Grande and Jimmy Kimmel as his neighbors after he snapped up a sprawling $25.5 million Hollywood Hills mansion. 

Edwin Castro hit headlines after winning the $2.04 billion prize back in November – though he has chosen to remain private ever since. 

But just one month after scooping up his one-time payment, reports state he has invested in a 13,578-square-foot hillside home which comes complete with a full outdoor kitchen, gym, wine cellar and infinity pool. 

It comes after it was revealed Castro is being sued by a fellow California resident who alleges he had the winning ticket and it was stolen from him. 

Last month Castro, who is reportedly in his early 30s, finally claimed his $997.6 million prize after taxes.

A $25.5 million Hollywood Hills mansion has been snapped up by record-breaking lottery winner Edwin Castro, who has stayed out of the limelight since scoring $2.04 billion on Powerball in November 

He bought up his new lavish home less than 30 days later, reports real estate magazine Dirt.

The three-story property, which sits behind the iconic Chateau Marmont, comes complete with five bedrooms and five bath and powder rooms. 

It also features an infinity pool, movie theatre and sauna as well as two separate garages that can hold up to seven cars. 

The pad was first listed back in July 2022 for $30 million but it appears Castro managed to shave $4.5 million off the headline price. 

Other amenities include a game room and bar as well as a fitness studio with a hot and cold plunge, a dry sauna and steam shower.

Meanwhile the double-height glass stairwell offers extensive city views while two fire pits and a built-in barbecue area sit outside.  

Castro has largely tried to evade the spotlight after his record-breaking win.

Californian rules dictate that any lottery winner must be named – but he has never been pictured out in public.

At the time of the win, lottery director Alva Johnson said Castro wanted to remain private and had declined an invitation from lottery officials to attend the press conference.

In a prepared statement Castro said: ‘As much as I am shocked and ecstatic to have won the Powerball drawing, the real winner is the California public school system.’

Public schools in California act as a beneficiary to the state’s lottery.

It means the education system received over $156 million as a result of the record-breaking win. 

Castro did not appear at the event but did have a statement read out in which he said that he was ‘shocked’ and ‘ecstatic’

California Lottery Director Alva Johnson announces that Edwin Castro won November’s record-high $2.04 billion PowerBall jackpot

‘The mission of the California lottery, which is to provide supplemental funding for California public education both public schools and colleges, makes this a huge win for the state,’ Castro said.

‘As someone who 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,’ the statement concluded.

But his story has been mired in controversy after California resident Jose Rivera claimed the winning ticket actually belonged to him.

Rivera is suing Castro for damages and is asking to be declared the winner of the historic jackpot.

Rivera said he had bought the ticket from Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California on November 7 but had it stolen the same day.

Rivera claims a man named ‘Reggie’ took the ticket and, after the numbers were drawn, he tried to get the winning ticket back to no avail.

Deputy Director Carolyn Becker of California Lottery announced Castro’s name back in November

The winning ticket was sold at Joe Service Center in Altadena, California 

It’s claimed that Reggie told Rivera that the ticket was a dud but if it turned out to be a winner that he would give up half the winnings.

Rivera said he ‘refused to be blackmailed’ and reported the theft to the CA Lottery and law enforcement.

Castro and Reggie have both been named as two separate defendants. 

He’s asking the court for damages and to declare him the winner of the historic $2.04billion jackpot.

An employee at the service station told Dailymail.com last month that Rivera was ‘crazy’ to pursue the suit.