Knowledge | Posted by Hnin Ei Khin
The winner of the historic $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot has been revealed as an immigrant from Laos who is battling cancer and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, 46, of Portland, who has had cancer for eight years, said he and his wife, Duanpen Saephan, 37, would split the prize evenly with a friend who contributed $100 to buy some tickets with them.
They are taking a lump sum payment — $422 million after taxes.
“I am grateful for the lottery and how I have been blessed,” he said at a news conference Monday held by the Oregon Lottery, adding that his “life has been changed.”
“I will be able to provide for my family and my health… I’ll find a good doctor for myself.”
(Oregon man Cheng “Charlie” Saephan was one of the winners of the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month. AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
He said that as a cancer patient, he wondered, “How am I going to have time to spend all of this money? How long will I live?”
After they bought the tickets with Laiza Chao, 55, of Milwaukie, Chao sent a photo of them to Saephan and said, “We’re billionaires.”
It was a joke before the actual drawing, he said, but the next day it came true.
According to Saephan, he called Chao to tell her the life-changing news.
After discovering he was holding the winning ticket, he called her to share the news.
“I said, ‘Laiza, where are you?’ and she said, ‘I’m going to work,'” said Saephan. “I replied, ‘You don’t have to go anymore.'”
According to KOIN, Saephan also told reporters he plans to first purchase a home for his family in Oregon. He also said he will likely continue to play the lottery after his winnings. “I might get lucky again,” he said. “I’ll keep playing.”
The single ticket, which matched all six numbers drawn to win the jackpot, was sold off at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in a Portland neighborhood.
(Saephan has been battling cancer for the past eight years.Abigail Dollins / Statesman Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)
(Saephan had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.Abigail Dollins / Statesman Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Ref: Winner of $1.3B Powerball jackpot is cancer patient from Laos, will split winnings with friend: ‘How long will I live?’ (nypost)
Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Jenny Kane, Abigail Dollins/ Statesman Journal/ USA TODAY NETWORK
