Claiming his prize in February 2023, Castro’s life was transformed as he walked away with a substantial lump sum of $997.6 million, nearly reaching billionaire status overnight.
With such a windfall, Castro began investing in various assets, including several properties.
Among his acquisitions was a $3.8 million home in Malibu. However, recent images shared by the US Sun show the residence reduced to ashes, with only charred wood and the foundation remaining.
The fire began in Los Angeles on Tuesday night (January 7), with gale-force winds reaching up to 100 mph, pushing it from the Pacific Coast toward Pasadena.
The most destructive wildfires in the region have claimed at least 10 lives and incinerated over 10,000 homes and structures, according to officials. They have urged more residents to comply with evacuation orders as a new fire has started and spread rapidly.
As firefighters continue battling the blaze, the count of casualties and destroyed homes is anticipated to climb.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported that by 3 am on Wednesday, all three of its one million-gallon water tanks, supplying fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades, were depleted.
President Joe Biden has pledged federal support to aid California in combating the blaze, offering full financial assistance for 180 days.
Biden commended the local utilities for shutting off power and praised California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, for his response during the emergency.
He stated: “What I know from talking to the governor [is] that there are concerns out there that there’s also been a water shortage.
“The fact is, the utilities understandably shut off power because they’re worried the lines that carry energy were going to be blown down and spark additional fires.
“There’s a direct correlation between the utility company and the ability to pump water out of a hydrant. And so it allows for a lot of uninformed people to make assertions or concerns or accusations about the local officials not caring or not working.”
You can assist those impacted by the fires by donating to the Red Cross through their website, calling (800) 733-2767, or texting REDCROSS to 90999.