Powerball winner’s Palazzo di Vista: Once listed at $88 million, it’s fit for Tony Stark

Jennifer Sangalang, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·7 min read

Wow. Just wow. When life hands you a $2.04 billion Powerball win, it's customary to splurge.

Months after Edwin Castro won the largest-ever lottery jackpot in U.S. history in November 2022, the sole winner bought an immaculate five-bedroom home in the Hollywood Hills. Castro had opted for a lump sum of $997.6 million, just shy of $1 billion, according to the California Lottery, when he claimed his winnings three months later on Feb. 14, 2023. Videos and listing descriptions about the house, before Castro had purchased it, can attest to its beauty and opulence.

Once listed for almost $88 million, the home is reminiscent of Tony Stark’s Malibu compound featured in Marvel’s “Iron Man” and “Avengers” movies. Fans of actor Robert Downey Jr.’s character may remember the home’s sweeping views, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the luxurious, plush setting … this Hollywood Hills home has that, too.

Robert Downey Jr. portrayed billionaire Tony Stark-slash Avenger superhero Iron Man for years in Marvel's popular franchise. In the films, Stark's Malibu compound, which has glass walls, sweeping views and an auto gallery with impressive (and expensive) cars, is similar to the Palazzo di Vista in Bel Air, California. Powerball winner Edwin Castro bought the Palazzo for $25.5 million months after his $2.04 billion lottery win.

The real estate videos and photo galleries of Castro’s new abode (see below) show a roomy parking garage and an auto gallery with a fun reference to pop culture — a life-size Transformers statue of Bumblebee, the yellow autobot from the hit “Transformers” movies, cartoons and TV shows. Two black sports cars, one presumably a Ferrari with its butterfly doors open, and the other a sleek roadster with a red “07” on the doors, are shown prominently in the real estate listing videos. Coincidentally, in the Marvel films, Tony Stark has a white car resembling a Ferrari and a black convertible roadster.

Here's info about that dream home, Edwin Castro and his epic $2.04 billion Powerball win.

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Who won $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot?

After months of rollovers, the Nov. 7, 2022, Powerball drawing ballooned to a whopping $2.04 billion. The jackpot was an estimated $1.9 billion days before the drawing, but lottery ticket sales pushed it to more than $2 billion after updated calculations. The drawings had rolled over 40 times since Aug. 3, 2022. Edwin Castro finally won the lottery with these winning numbers: 10-33-41-47-56 and the Powerball was 10. (Note the Powerball and one of the winning numbers from the drawing are repeats.)

Castro purchased his ticket at Joe's Service Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles. A day after the drawing, the California Lottery awarded Joe's Service Center with a $1 million bonus.

Who is Edwin Castro, Powerball lottery winner?

In March 2023, TMZ reported Castro was once a Boy Scout, rising to the rank of Eagle Scout, and a prominent athlete at Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta, California. The TMZ story said Castro played football and baseball for Crescenta Valley and eventually studied architecture at Woodbury University in Burbank, California.

What did $2.04 billion lottery winner do with his prize money?

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After Castro claimed his winnings as a one-time, lump sum payment on Valentine's Day 2023, three months after the drawing, he bought a $25.5 million estate in Hollywood Hills on March 1. Interestingly, at one point, the house was on the market for $87.777 million. The 13,500-square-foot mansion above Hollywood’s famed Chateau Marmont hotel sits on a 0.58-acre lot and features five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The main room is on the third floor and has its own balcony. Other amenities include a garage big enough to park seven cars.

Most of the house, which sports an outdoor infinity pool and fireplace, is made up of glass walls.

News reports show he hired 24/7 security once he became a multimillionaire. In California, lottery winners’ identities are public record.

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What is the $25.5 million estate in Hollywood Hills like?

Known as Palazzo di Vista, which means "the palace of views" or "vista palace,” the $25.5 million gated estate in the Hollywood Hills actually has two addresses associated with it. In the video below, the property provides a "Sarbonne Road" in Bel Air address while the Zillow listing mentions the mansion is on Sunset View Drive in Los Angeles.

What did the Hollywood Hills home listing say?

The five-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate was listed on the market with an asking price of $30 million on July 15, 2022, four months before Castro won the $2.04 billion Powerball lottery jackpot. At that time, the Powerball jackpot for July 16, 2022, was $82 million. Castro’s Powerball win in November came from a different series of rollovers that started in August 2022.

A July 19, 2022, story on Mansion Global describes the then "newly built Los Angeles mansion with panoramic views" perched above the famous Chateau Marmont hotel. Other highlights of the home, according to Mansion Global:

  • "Views from downtown Los Angeles to Century City are framed through a wall of glass doors, which match a double-height glass stairwell," the story states.

  • The great room once featured a sitting area with fireplace, dining area and kitchen with black granite counters.

  • Videos and photos show the primary suite has a spa-like bathroom and private balcony.

  • The home has three levels and an elevator along with a game room, movie theater, wine cellar, bar and fitness studio with a dry sauna and steam shower. Outside, the Hollywood Hills home has an infinity pool, spa, fire pits, barbecue area, and a rooftop deck.

  • In one video about the Palazzo di Vista, viewers see a special guest in the five-car showroom (Bumblebee from the "Transformers" series and movies) and two sleek, black sports cars, likely a Ferrari.

  • Art pieces are displayed on the walls, and a red gorilla statue striking a “King Kong” pose is on a pillar outside.

  • The mansion is within walking distance of California's famed Sunset Strip, known for its boutiques, restaurants and clubs.

What does the $25.5 million Hollywood Hills home listing on Zillow say?

Real estate site Zillow mentions these features about the five-bedroom Hollywood Hills home:

As of Aug. 22, 2023, a check online shows the estimated refinance payment of $174,741 per month.

"Sited privately behind a set of gates above the famed Chateau Marmont, this new modern retreat created by Roman James Design, is completed with luxe amenities and exquisite finishes. Panoramic breathtaking views from Downtown to Century City are showcased through a wall of Fleetwood glass doors. The great room features a sitting area complete with a fireplace, dining area and a gorgeous open kitchen with black absolute granite counters. The indoor flows seamlessly outside to an infinity pool, spa, two fire pits and a built-in barbecue area. Double height glass stairwell leads to the upper level where the explosive primary suite includes a private balcony and a spa-like bathroom with Antolini Panda Dalmata stone slabs. Downstairs, boasts an entertainer's dream with a game room, wine cellar, movie theater, bar, and a fitness studio with a hot and cold plunge, dry sauna and steam shower. Endless bonus features include a rooftop deck, five-car showroom in addition to the upper 2 car garage and 7+ gated off street spots. Step inside and revel in absolute splendor. Your future awaits."

The home has five full bathrooms and two 1/2 bathrooms, hardwood floors and an elevator. Zillow classifies the architectural style as modern, with the home built in 2022.

The real estate site shows property taxes cost $16,285 in 2014 and increased to $66,940 a year later. In 2022, the property taxes were listed at $133,298, the Zillow listing states.

Where can I see photos of the $25.5 million Hollywood Hills home aka Palazzo di Vista?

The Robb Report posted a photo gallery of the $25.5 million Hollywood Hills home in July 2022. Here's a link to the photo gallery.

Mansion Global published a story about the home along with a photo gallery in July 2022. Here's a link to Mansion Global coverage of the Palazzo di Vista.

Autoevolution.com delves into more detail about the artwork featured in the Palazzo di Vista like a NFT art gallery and mentions the pool's 3D laser projector was inspired by "light shows at Disneyland." Here's a link to AutoEvolution's 2021 story about the Hollywood Hills home.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: About $2 billion Powerball winner's Hollywood home by Chateau Marmont