The newly revealed winner of the Powerball jackpot prize worth $2.679 billion – the second-largest since Edwin Castro – had reportedly remortgaged his modest home for $141,000 before coming into sudden wealth.
Theodorus “Theo” Struyck, a 65-year-old Hawaii native now living in California, was identified this week as the representative of a group who bought the winning Powerball ticket for the October 11 drawing.
The new multi-millionaire has been living for years in a one-story home in the area of Frazier Park, California, which he bought in 2010 after taking out a $132,000 mortgage, the US Sun has revealed, citing property documents.
In March 2015, Mr Struyck took out a second mortgage of $141,000, which he had to repay in full by April 2035.
But the lucky jackpot recipient does not have to worry about the mortgage deadline anymore.
Records cited by the outlet indicate that the deed for Mr Struyck’s property in Kerns County was transferred to the “Struyck Theodorus B Tr Opa Can Rest Now Trust” in January 2024.
The word “Opa” means “grandpa” in German.
Mr Struyck was said to have a son in the US Marines stationed in San Diego, where the jackpot ticket was cashed, and several grandchildren.
“He adores his grandchildren,” neighbour Mary Dreier told KGET. “He’s just really pleasant to have around.”
Mr Struyck bought the winning ticket from the family-owned Midway Market, located just 500 yards from his home in the mountainous community of Frazier Park.
A ‘No Trespassing” sign appeared on his property last week.
Mr Struyck’s jackpot fell $42 million short of Edwin Castro’s historic $3.1 billion lottery win in November 2022.
At just 31, Mr Castro’s life veered into the fast lane when he struck gold with a lottery ticket from a gas station.
This article originally appeared in New York Post and was reproduced here with permission
