With many dreaming big of winning the Powerball’s massive billion-dollar jackpot on Monday, one Altadena gas station that sold a ticket that won the largest jackpot in the game’s history is seeing an increase in traffic from customers hoping to get that same luck.
One by one, lottery hopefuls shuffled into Joe’s Service Center in hopes they’d garner the same luck Edwin Castro did. In November 2022, Castro won the largest Powerball jackpot ever after he purchased a ticket from Joe’s Service Center that ended up being worth $2.04 billion.
Since the gas station sold the lucky ticket, owner Joe Chahayed won $1 million.
Many people may be dreaming of striking it rich as tonight’s Powerball jackpot is worth more than a billion dollars. John Cádiz Klemack reports for the NBC4 News at 6 a.m. on Sept. 1, 2025.
These days, Chahayed still works at his store, despite the generous bonus he was given. He said he used a chunk of those funds to pay for his grandchildren’s college education – all 11 of them. Their ages range from 3 to 30 years, he said.
“Family first, then you can have fun with what you want with the rest,” he said.
If Monday’s drawing garners a single winner, the lump sum cash option for the jackpot will be about $498.4 million. Castro opted for the lump sum and took home $997.6 million.
Chahayed said if he were to see Castro again, he’d greet him just as he does any other customer – a hello and a warm “good luck” to all who purchase lottery tickets from him.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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