I made $1million from selling the winning Powerball ticket - the advice I gave to $2billion winner E

May 2024 · 3 minute read

THE gas station owner who sold a $2billion Powerball ticket - banking himself $1million in the process - has revealed his advice for jackpot winner Edwin Castro.

Joe Chahayed, owner of Joe's Service Center in Altadena, California, was left stunned by the country's biggest win last November.

Edwin, 30, who lived in a humble home close to Joe's business and visited regularly to buy coffee, donuts, and tickets was named in February as the man who scooped the big bucks.

He opted for a lump sum payment of $997.6 million after tax and has already purchased two homes and flash vehicles.

The U.S. Sun caught up with Joe, who chose to go back to work the next day at 6am to run his family business and is giving his own winnings to his family, including his 11 grandchildren.

"We've had quite a few lottery winners at our stations, but this is the biggest on earth, no ticket is bigger than this," Joe said.

Read more on Edwin Castro

"All the media ask me, 'Did you meet with him [Edwin]? Did you sit down with him?' I said no.

"Now he's been identified in the public, they see his [new] house. I tell him … be smart, watch your money, no matter how much money you have, don't go with the bad people," he said.

LUXURY PURCHASES

"Now he's in the Hollywood Hills next to Ariana Grande," Joe said, joking that if he starts hanging around with celebrities and splashes too much cash, his winnings will be gone.

Edwin plunked down $25million on his luxury main home above Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.

Most read in Money

The luxury abode has a game room, wine cellar, gym, infinity pool, and spa.

It's a five-bedroom, seven-bathroom home with 13,500 square feet of living space.

Edwin also splashed $4million on a smaller abode close to his old house in his hometown of Altadena.

Joe went on to joke that Edwin probably wouldn't listen to him, but he hopes he donates to his local church and doesn't forget his family after the win, adding: "I say, 'God bless you.'

"He hasn't been in [to the store] again, I won't reach out to him but he's welcome to come by anytime."

Joe, who has invested some of his winnings, described Edwin as a "good man" and believes he's single and previously worked for a company that does home improvements.

BIGGEST WIN

Edwin declined an invitation from California Lottery officials to appear at a news conference, where his name was revealed last month.

A rep instead read a statement on his behalf at the event.

"As much as I am shocked and ecstatic to have won the Powerball drawing, the real winner is the California public school system," they told waiting media.

"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.

"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."

California State Lottery Director Alva V. Johnson told reporters that the Powerball win raised a record $156.3million for the public school system in the state.

Read More on The US Sun

The overall jackpot of $2.04billion was the largest lottery win in American history.

According to the Multi-State Lottery Association, the odds of matching all five numbers and the Powerball number is an incredible one in 292.2 million.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEZqqupl6YvK57zKilnrFfbX5yhZJpcGifkah6tMDAraCopl2kxK%2Bx0WaZoqScnryvecuoq62doq56uLXNp5yrZZWZxKq6jJyYrKyipHqisNWimp5n