An immigrant from Laos, who has been battling cancer for eight years, emerged as one of the fortunate winners of the record-breaking $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month. Despite undergoing his latest round of chemotherapy treatment just last week, luck finally smiled upon him.
During a news conference organized by the Oregon Lottery, Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, residing in Portland, revealed that he and his wife, Duanpen, had made an agreement to evenly divide the prize money with a friend named Laiza Chao. It was Laiza who had contributed $100 to purchase a set of tickets alongside them.
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After taxes, they will receive a lump sum payment of $422 million.
He expressed his confidence in being able to support his family and maintain his health. Additionally, he mentioned his intention to find a reputable doctor for his personal medical needs.
As a cancer patient, he found himself pondering about the financial implications and the duration of his life. He wondered, “Will I have enough time to spend all this money?”
After purchasing the shared tickets, Ms. Chao playfully sent a photo of the tickets to Mr. Saephan, exclaiming, “We’re billionaires.” Little did they know, this playful remark would turn into reality the following day.
During the news conference, he excitedly shared, “As Laiza was driving to work, I called her and exclaimed, ‘You don’t have to go to work now! We won the lottery! We won the jackpot!'”
Mr. Saephan expressed his intention to continue playing the lottery when questioned about it.
“I’ll keep playing,” he said with a laugh, expressing optimism for another stroke of luck.
The Powerball jackpot was finally won in early April at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland, putting an end to a more than three-month-long drought. The lucky numbers that secured the win were 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, with the red Powerball number being 9, as reported by KOIN.
Plaid Pantry expressed their excitement upon hearing the news that one of their 104 Oregon stores had sold the winning $1.3 billion Powerball ticket. Jonathan Polonsky, the President and CEO of Plaid Pantry, conveyed his delight to the Oregon Lottery, stating, “This store is one of our newest and most beloved locations.” He further emphasized the positive impact of the Oregon Lottery on the state, highlighting their longstanding partnership and the numerous programs that benefit all residents of Oregon.
The store selling the winning lottery ticket will be awarded a $100,000 bonus.
The Oregon Lottery has emphasized the importance of undergoing a thorough security and vetting process prior to revealing the identity of the individual who has come forward to claim the prize.
In Oregon, lottery players are generally not allowed to remain anonymous, as per state law. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Additionally, winners are given a one-year timeframe to claim their top prize.
The winner can choose between receiving a lump sum of $621 million (before taxes) or opting for an annuity paid over 30 years. If they go for the lump sum, they will receive an immediate payout followed by 29 annual installments. It’s worth noting that the jackpot is subject to federal taxes as well as state taxes in Oregon.
According to the Oregon Lottery, the $1.3 billion prize is the fourth largest Powerball jackpot in history and the eighth largest among US jackpot games.
Melanie Mesaros, a spokesperson for the Oregon Lottery, expressed her excitement about their first winner on such a grand scale. In an interview with ABC News on 7 April, Mesaros shared, “This is very exciting for us.”
In 2022, California made history by claiming the largest US lottery jackpot ever won, a staggering $2.04 billion.
