In ALEM, Oregon, a recipient of a $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot this month is an immigrant from Laos who has been battling cancer for eight years and recently underwent chemotherapy.
Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, 46, of Portland, shared at a news conference hosted by the Oregon Lottery on Monday that he and his 37-year-old wife, Duanpen, are taking half of the winnings, while the other half is going to a friend, Laiza Chao, 55, of the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, who had contributed $100 for a batch of tickets. They opted for a lump sum payment, which amounts to $422 million after taxes.
Saephan expressed relief, saying, "I will be able to provide for my family and my health," and mentioned his plans to "find a good doctor for myself." As a cancer patient and a father of two young children, he pondered, "How am I going to have time to spend all of this money? How long will I live?"
After purchasing the tickets together, Chao jokingly sent Saephan a photo of the tickets, saying, “We’re billionaires,” which turned into reality the next day when they won. Chao was informed by Saephan while she was on her way to work, with him telling her, “You don't have to go anymore.”
Saephan, who was born in Laos, moved to Thailand in 1987, and then immigrated to the U.S. in 1994. He belongs to the Iu Mien ethnic group, an Asian community with origins in southern China. Saephan graduated from high school in 1996 and has been living in Portland for 30 years, working as a machinist for an aerospace company.
In the days leading up to the draw, he wrote down numbers for the game on a piece of paper and kept it under his pillow, praying for a win, as he felt the urgency to secure his family's future before his health declined further. The winning ticket was sold in early April at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland, ending a streak of no wins for over three months. Under Oregon law, lottery winners cannot remain anonymous, and they have a year to claim the top prize.
The jackpot, with a cash value of $621 million before taxes, could be taken as a lump sum or as an annuity paid over 30 years, subject to federal and state taxes in Oregon. This prize is the fourth largest Powerball jackpot in history and the eighth largest among U.S. jackpot games, according to the Oregon Lottery.