Alex
The announcement of the Powerball winner recently came out, with Cheng “Charlie” Saephan from Portland, Oregon, claiming more than $1 billion. On Monday, April 29, in Salem, Oregon, the Oregon Lottery shared the thrilling news that a massive winning ticket worth $1.326 billion was secured by Cheng, 46, and his wife Duanpen, 37, according to the Associated Press. They emerged as the winners of Oregon’s largest-ever lottery jackpot and decided to split their winnings with their friend, Laiza Chao, 55, who pitched in $100 for the tickets.
During the award ceremony at the Oregon Lottery office on Monday, Saephan expressed gratitude, saying, “First, I want to thank God for this amazing prize,” according to The Oregonian.
Saephan, previously employed as a machinist for an aerospace company, shared with reporters from AP and The Oregonian that he was born in Laos, moved to Thailand in 1987, and then immigrated to the U.S. in 1994. Having lived in Portland for 30 years, he mentioned being a father to two young children and wore a sash representing his Iu Mien heritage at the ceremony.
A cancer patient himself, Saephan wondered, “How will I manage to spend all this money?” during the event, revealing that he was diagnosed in 2016 and underwent chemotherapy a week before, as per The Oregonian.
Saephan also mentioned spending $200 on lottery tickets with his wife and friend, praying nightly for months before the winning numbers were drawn. He even wrote down the numbers and kept them under his pillow, as reported by the AP.
“I need help—I don’t want to pass away without doing something significant for my family first,” Saephan remarked, recalling his prayers before the winning numbers were announced.
The winning ticket, purchased earlier in the month at a Plaid Pantry store in Portland, resulted in a $100,000 bonus for the store, as reported by The Oregonian.
“I congratulate the Saephans and Ms. Chao on this historic win,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells in a statement to The Oregonian. “The prize is life-changing for them and their families, and it’s also a big win for the state.”
After opting for a one-time payment instead of the 30-year annuity, the group has already received $422,309,193.97 after taxes, according to the AP.
