An Oregon man, who has been fighting cancer for eight years and recently underwent chemotherapy, is one of the lucky winners of this month's $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot. Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, along with his wife and a friend, opted for the cash option of over $422 million after taxes. The trio decided to split the earnings, with the friend receiving 50% and the Saephans each taking 25%.
During a news conference held by the Oregon Lottery, Saephan expressed his happiness for his family, stating that they will now have a good life. However, given his ongoing battle with cancer, he pondered how he would find the time to enjoy the newfound wealth.
Despite the massive win, Saephan intends to lead a 'normal' life going forward and hopes to purchase a dream home for his family. This jackpot marked the fourth-largest in history for Powerball, with the historic drawing on April 6 being delayed for over three hours to complete pre-draw procedures. Additionally, this win stands as the largest Powerball prize ever won in Oregon.
The winning ticket was sold at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland, with the store receiving a $100,000 bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket. Saephan, a Laotian native residing in Portland for three decades, revealed that the winning numbers were computer-generated using the Quick Pick option, attributing the selection to divine intervention.
Upon discovering his win, Saephan immediately informed his friend Chao, who had contributed $100 towards the lottery tickets. Chao was on her way to work when she received the life-changing news, prompting Saephan to tell her to skip work as they had just won the jackpot.
