Woman Missed Powerball by One Number, Still Walked Away Victorious
California resident Ana Contreras was just one number off from a $2.04 billion jackpot.
Last month, one lucky lottery player took home the record-breaking Powerball jackpot, but apparently, there were almost two big winners.
California lottery officials announced this week that a woman by the name of Ana Contreras missed splitting the jackpot by just a hare, according to a report from WGN News.
Her ticket, sold at Stues Dairy in Gardena, California, was off by just one number, making Edwin Castro the sole winner of the $2.04 billion prize.
But Contreras definitely didn't go home empty-handed, as her ticket was still worth over a million dollars, $1,149,661 to be exact. However, the lottery office didn't reveal how Contreras planned to spend her winnings.
Related: California Man Claims Billion Dollar-Winning Powerball Ticket Was Stolen From Him
As for Castro—who opted for a cash payout—the Golden State resident has already been living it up with his prize money, which is the highest amount in Powerball lottery history.
As Parade reported, Castro recently purchased a $25.5 million mansion in Hollywood Hills, the same neighborhood that hosts some of Los Angeles County's most famed celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Jimmy Kimmel and Dakota Johnson.
Designed by acclaimed real estate developer Roman James, the 15,000-square-foot mansion stands three stories tall and sits on a .58 acre lot. The hillside property, featuring contemporary-style architecture, also features an array of luxurious amenities—including a private infinity pool, a giant fireplace, five bedrooms, six bathrooms, two powder rooms and a stunning view of the L.A. city skyline, the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.
Other than his sprawling new property, not much else is known about Castro, who is believed to be somewhere in his 30s. He also did not appear at the press conference held after his win last month.
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