Record-breaking £577m lottery winner sparks outrage over choice for spending winnings

A man who won a staggering £577m in a record-breaking lottery jackpot reportedly has grand plans for a community devastated by wildfires. Edwin Castro, who bagged an astonishing $2billion (£1.51bn) in the US Powerball lottery, is said to be one of several ultra-wealthy individuals looking at fire-damaged properties affected by the catastrophic Californian wildfires in January.

In a move that comes in the face of criticism of what has been unflatteringly labelled as "disaster capitalism", Castro has purchased 15 plots of land in Altadena for a cool $10m (around £7,500,000).

Castro's hometown of Altadena, just a 20-minute drive from Los Angeles, was severely hit by the disaster, which claimed at least 31 lives and destroyed 57,000 acres as fires tore through local neighbourhoods.

There are concerns that the proposed development will result in the loss of what the Daily Mail refers to as the town's "small community feel". However, Castro, who reportedly plans to rejuvenate the area and support local families, has defended his plans.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he stated: "I want it to feel like the old neighbourhood. Like if you put all those houses pre-fire in a time bubble."

Despite this, the lottery winner, who ultimately pocketed $768 million (more than £570m) after picking up his lucky ticket at a gas station in the very town he intends to develop, won't "give them away".

Castro hasn't ruled out the possibility of additional structures beyond his planned family homes, asserting that he will sell his completed properties at market value and that "egregious" margins aren't required.

The report also suggested that Castro is not only considering exclusive sales to families over investors, but he's also