REVEALED: Powerball billionaire Edwin Castro ‘vanished’ from social media after winning $2.04B jackpot and took his friends on luxury trip to celebrate before his name was made public

Powerball billionaire Edwin Castro took his friends on a luxury holiday to Fiji to celebrate his record-breaking jackpot, while purposefully 'disappearing' from social media.

Castro, 31, made a concerted effort to go off-grid in the days after winning $2.04 billion in November 2022, preferring to enjoy his victory alone with his closest friends.

Friends say that when Castro took the lump sum option – which brought the total to $997 million after taxes – he cleaned up his online presence and spent time in blissful anonymity before his identity was revealed in February.

“I noticed he disappeared from his social media for a few months after he won, which is smart,” an insider told the New York Post.

Castro took a group of friends to Fiji late last year where he celebrated the $2.04 billion win, including a stop at 'floating paradise' bar Cloud 9 (pictured)

Before he was identified as the winner of the largest lottery jackpot in American history, Castro chose Fiji as the site for his latest low-key outburst.

He was seen with friends cracking coconuts and chilling on the beach with at least six others, who probably didn't expect to pay much for the holiday.

The group was also spotted at the exclusive Cloud 9 bar, a giant floating watering hole reportedly billed as 'Fiji's floating paradise'.

Reachable only by boat about an hour from the tropical island's mainland, the bar has two levels designed for a day of snorkeling, sunbathing and drinking.

Cloud 9 says it's “more than just a floating bar; it's a vibe,” and serves as a “renowned hub for artisans, underground musicians, lovers, dreamers and pleasure seekers from around the world.”

Castro reportedly returned from his excursion to Fiji to his family's three-bedroom home near La Crescenta, California, but it wasn't long before he started splashing the cash.

He hired bodyguards for him and his family and began working with his brother Jesse, a banker, to manage his fortune.

Scammers also learned about Castro's wealth as soon as it became public, as his friends and family were inundated with targeted spam messages.

“I remember getting spam messages from someone claiming to be him saying he was giving away money,” a source told the Post.

According to the outlet, one of the scam messages read: “You are blessed, I am EDWIN CASTRO from California, the winner of the Powerball jackpot.

'I have divided most of my assets among a number of charities and organizations. I have voluntarily decided to donate the amount of $200,000 to you, as one of the selected 300 people.”

Castro's most exorbitant expenses were building his real estate portfolio, including the purchase of a massive $47 million complex in Los Angeles in September.

Castro added this sprawling $47 million California complex to his real estate portfolio earlier this year

The property is nestled in the hills of Bel Air, surrounded by a number of A-lister neighbors

Castro has also shown his appreciation for luxury sports cars and was spotted driving away from a bank in a vintage Porsche 911 earlier this year

The enormous property has seven bedrooms and eleven bathrooms, a koi pond and a huge infinity pool with views of all of LA.

The sprawling mansion is the third California estate he has spent money on since winning the lottery, totaling more than $76 million.

He has also shown his appreciation for luxury sports cars and was seen driving a vintage Porsche from one of his homes.

His latest home purchase includes DJ turntables, a champagne tasting room and a hanging glass walkway.

Upon entering the home, the foyer features a giant swimming pool-sized koi pond with glass walls and an infinity pool. The entire house is fully equipped so that even those who take a dip in the pool can feel the beat, making it the perfect place for a party.

The house even comes complete with a bar, glass-walled wine cellar and a huge home theater and screening room.

The bedrooms feature walk-in wardrobes, sitting areas called 'relaxation suites' and en suite bathrooms designed to provide the pinnacle of luxury.

Another of Castro's new homes is a $4 million mansion he reportedly bought for his parents, a short drive from the suburb where he grew up.

Located in Altadena, California, the five-bedroom, five-bathroom, 4,300-square-foot home features a number of luxurious amenities, including a koi pond garden

He also bought a $25 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills, and bought his parents a $4 million Japanese-inspired home in Altadena.

The house comes with its own home theater, private office and expensive artwork, which will surely be enhanced given Castro's hefty new bank balance.

His proud parents will love the home just a short drive from the suburb where Castro grew up.

Despite his life being turned upside down, insiders say Castro has not let the money change him and that he is in control of the fortune, even though he appears to be spending a lot.

“He is very grounded in what he does,” says an insider. “Whatever he spends, he knows he's going to make a profit.”