When Edwin Castro claimed his $2 billion Powerball jackpot in 2022, headlines painted him as the man who went from anonymous art teacher to instant billionaire overnight. But what came after was far more revealing — a quiet story of loyalty, purpose, and home.
Castro didn’t vanish into luxury or chase fame. He stayed close to Altadena, California — the same town where he’d grown up, the same mountain views that shaped his childhood. “Money doesn’t change who you are,” he once said. “It just gives you the power to prove who you’ve always been.”
Then came the Eaton Fire in 2025. Entire blocks of Altadena were reduced to ashes — homes gone, families displaced, a community shaken. While others donated, Edwin did something unexpected: he invested.
He purchased 15 fire-damaged lots for $10 million — but not to build mansions or rentals. His plan was simple and selfless: rebuild single-family homes for local residents who wanted to return and rebuild their lives. No investors. No short-term profits. No flashy ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
“This isn’t about profit,” Castro told a local reporter. “It’s about making sure kids who grew up here can raise their own families here too. This is my home. It’s personal.”
Locals who once watched him quietly drive his old Honda Civic now see him walking construction sites, talking with builders, and meeting displaced families. He doesn’t wear suits — just jeans and a dusty ball cap, hands in pockets, listening more than he speaks.
Neighbors say he insists on environmentally friendly materials, solar panels, and affordable ownership programs. For Edwin, it’s not about how much he gives — but how deeply it helps.
One builder recalled him saying, “When I won that ticket, I didn’t earn it. So I figured I should use it for something that is earned — rebuilding trust.”
The fire had taken homes, but Edwin Castro decided it wouldn’t take hope.
He doesn’t want monuments or streets named after him. He just wants the people of Altadena to stay — to walk their dogs, plant their gardens, and feel safe again.
“I was lucky,” he said softly. “Now it’s my turn to make someone else feel lucky too.”