Judge Throws Out Case Against $2B Powerball Winner

This week, a lawsuit filed against Edwin Castro, the winner of the record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot, was dismissed by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. The suit was originally filed in Feb. 2023 by Jose Rivera, a man claiming to be the actual winner of the prize. 

Rivera claimed the winning ticket was stolen from him the night before the drawing in November 2023 by his landlord, Urachi F. “Reggie” Romero. According to the lawsuit, Romero blackmailed Rivera to split the winnings with him. 

Rivera claims to not know how the ticket ended with Castro’s possession. Rivera says he’s never met Castro. 

In related California news, the state recently passed a bill allowing casinos to sue cardrooms. 

The Person in Possession of the Ticket is the Winner

In August, Judge Donna Hollingsworth ruled that “players are solely responsible for securing their tickets against theft, loss, damage, or destruction.” 

However, the veracity of Rivera’s claims was never ruled on. 

“The person in possession of a … winning lottery ticket … is the presumptive owner/winner,” Hollingsworth also said. 

Rivera didn’t file a response to the ruling, so the case was tossed. 

"Judgment shall be entered in favor of Defendant Edwin Castro and against Plaintiff Jose Rivera. Plaintiff shall receive nothing from Defendant Edwin Castro,” Hollingsworth wrote in her ruling.

Rivera’s Landlord Supports His Claim

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

Romero mentioned that his ticket may have been stolen by his friend, an ex-con known as “Midget.” Romero believes he has connections to Castro’s family. 

Castro’s Lawyer Says There’s Video Footage

Castro’s attorney, David De Paoli, said that there is video footage of his client buying the winner's ticket, but the tape has yet to be released by the California Lottery. 

In November 2023, Rivera was charged by Pasadena Police for wasting the police’s time.

Shortly after that, River said that “our true god knows the truth” regarding the situation. 

Since winning the prize, Castro has purchased luxury properties, vintage cars, and is dating Instagram model Payten Vincent. 

Vincent and Castro met at a Giorgio Armani event in Malibu some time ago.