A California grandfather whose lotto syndicate won $1.57 billion has been pictured for the first time, with neighbors saying it ‘couldn’t have happened to a better guy’.
Theodorus Struyck, 65, was identified in a news release by the California lottery as the representative of the group of winners who bought the ticket in Frazier Park.
The group walked away with $1.765 billion after the draw last October, making it the second-largest lottery jackpot in US history.
Struyck, who is also known as Theo, is originally from Hawaii and is retired having worked for UPS.
He lives in the town of 3,000 people inside a 1,176-square-foot single family home with his wife Laura, having stayed there for at least a decade.
Theodorus Struyck, 65, was identified in a news release by the California lottery as the representative of the group of winners who bought the ticket in Frazier Park
The group walked away with $1.765 billion after the draw last October, making it the second-largest lottery jackpot in US history
Neighbor Kevin Woten, who has lived in Frazier Park for more than 20 years, said he has not seen Struyck for days.
‘When I heard Theo won, I thought, ‘Couldn’t have happened to a better guy,’ Woten said.
‘He’s a family man, loves to spend time with his grandkids. He adores the kids. He’s a really kind person and always seems happy. I imagine he’s got a lot of ideas of what he wants to do with the money.’
He said the last long conversation he had with Struyck was after the recent devastating fires in Maui.
Woten thinks Struyck didn’t have family who was directly affected by the fires, but the native Hawaiian was distraught over the lives lost and the destruction.
Sturyck has a son in the US Marines and is based out of San Diego, where the ticket was cashed.
He is also said to be an avid fisherman, with a small boat seen parked in front of his garage.
Neighbor Mary Dreier said she hasn’t seen him for a few days. She said, ‘He’s really a nice person and is enjoying retirement.
‘I knew the winner had claimed the ticket in San Diego, which was very smart. Kudos to him!’
Another neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said all the media attention has driven Struyck away from the quiet mountain town.
He lives in the town of 3,000 people inside a 1,176-square-foot single family home, seen here, with his wife Laura, having stayed there for at least a decade
Since the win, a private property notice has been posted on the home that he shares with his wife
Midway Market, a family owned business in the town, had sold the ticket to the syndicate
Owner, Nidal ‘Andy’ Khalil, told DailyMail.com that Struyck comes to his store at least twice or three times a week
The last time she saw him was about five days ago when he put up a no trespassing sign.
Midway Market, a family owned business in the town, had sold the ticket to the syndicate.
Owner, Nidal ‘Andy’ Khalil, told DailyMail.com that Struyck comes to his store at least twice or three times a week.
He said Struyck came to the store on Thursday, but he has yet to congratulate him in person.
Khalil said since no one had come forward for five months, he was afraid that the ticket had been lost.
‘I was sure someone local had bought the ticket, and I’m so glad it was,’ Khalil told DailyMail.com.
Jonathan Khalil, left, and Chris Khalil, sons of the store co-owners, hold up a ceremonial check after the $1.765 billion winning Powerball ticket was sold
Neighbors of Struyck have told DailyMail.com that they are delighted for the grandfather describing him as ‘a really nice family man’
The winning numbers were: 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10
‘I’m very happy that someone finally claimed the winnings because I thought the ticket might’ve been lost or the winner washed it in their laundry.
‘I don’t get too may customers from out of town, so I thought it would be someone local.’
Khalil added he is happy that the winners finally came forward after the October drawing made national headline.
Khalil and his family also received $1 million for selling the winning ticket, he said things in the sleepy town of about 3,100 have returned ‘back to normal.’
California Lottery Director Harjinder K. Shergill Chima said: ‘Announcing big wins like this gives all of our players the chance to hope and dream that they could be next.
‘But it also gives us an opportunity to shine the spotlight on our terrific mission, which is to generate additional, supplemental funding for public education in California.’
The huge payout is the second largest lottery prize in US history, after Edwin Castro scooped a $2.04 billion Powerball win in California in November 2022.
Castro has gone on to make a number of lavish real estate purchases, fueling speculation over who the nation’s latest billionaire lottery winner may be.
He is currently engaged in a dispute over the ownership of the ticket, with Jose Rivera claiming that he won it and Castro stole the ticket.
Castro took the lump sum option after winning $2.04 billion in November 2022, which brought the total down to $997 million after tax.