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FAMILY MAN
Theodorus Struyck is spending time with son away from his humble $90,000 home he remortgaged before $1.7b lottery win
Inside grandfather Theo's life following his lottery victory
NEW Powerball winner Theodorus Struyck has yet to move into a new house following his $1.76 billion win with a mystery syndicate, after paying off his humble $90,000 home.
The U.S. Sun has learned the lucky grandfather, 65, has been spending time with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren in California since his shock windfall.
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Struyck, known to friends as Theo, was named by the California Lottery as the representative of an unknown group that won the money following the ticket sale in October 2023.
He bought the $2 Quick Pick from Midway Market, just minutes from his home in Frazier Park, a mountain town about an hour's drive north of Los Angeles.
It was cashed in San Diego, which The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal is around 50 miles from where his son and family reside.
He was seen in exclusive photographs running errands in the neighborhood this month - 169 miles from the one-story home he had been sharing with his long-term partner, Laura.
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Struyck, whose son is reportedly in the military, bought his Kern County property in 2010 and took out a mortgage for $86,753.
In March 2015, he took out a second loan for $93,200 with Western Financial Credit Union, which he had to pay off by April 2035.
Documents seen by The U.S. Sun show he paid off the house and transferred the deed in January 2024 to a new trust named, "Struyck Theodorus B Tr Opa Can Rest Now Trust."
Opa is another word for grandpa that originates in Germany.
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SAFETY FEARS
The documents were signed by Struyck on January 5 and list him as an "unmarried man."
Neighbors in Frazier Park said they were concerned about Struyck returning to normal life due to the attention surrounding the win and him becoming a possible target.
Theodorus Struyck who won $1.7B lottery jackpot is 'no Edwin Castro' as seller bags $1m but is back at work next day
Locals said he recently added a yellow "private property" sign, warning visitors that trespassers will be prosecuted.
His neighbor Kevin Woten, who lives with his wife next door, told The U.S. Sun, "We're keeping an eye out but you worry about shady people up to no good.
"I'm worried someone might come by and put a sack over his head, throw him in a van, and take him off, that sort of thing.
"I'm hoping he'll look into security [when he returns]. You have to with that amount of money."
A source also said Struyck has spent little time at his old home since the win and has been supported by his family as he navigates the huge life change.
Harjinder K. Shergill Chima, the California Lottery Director, 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.
"So, it's students of all ages across the state, who win every day thanks to our players, our retail partners who sell these fun games, and our hard-working staff here at the Lottery. This is an exciting day for all of us!"
FRUGAL GRANDFATHER
The U.S. Sun approached Struyck's family for comment but they declined to talk about the win.
According to locals in Frazier Park, Struyck is a man of simple pleasures and was enjoying his retirement after working for UPS when he got lucky.
The windfall is the second-largest in American history after former mechanic Edwin Castro's $2.04 billion Powerball triumph in November 2022.
Struyck appears to be a fairly frugal man, as an eyewitness said he was spotted driving an old truck and eating at fast food restaurant Taco Bell during the recent outing.
In stark contrast, Castro, 32, has bought a $25 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills, a $4 million home for his family, and a fleet of luxury sportscars.
Castro received just $628,488,000 after taxes as he decided to take his winnings as a lump sum.
Carolyn Becker, a spokesperson for the lottery, declined to comment on the other lucky players in Struyck's syndicate due to "safety concerns."
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But she did confirm they also opted to receive the cash in a lump sum, as most big winners have in the past, meaning they took home $774.1 million before taxes.
Lottery winners can opt for 30 annual payments over 29 years, with the money coming in over an extended period.
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