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POWERING ON
Cheng Saephan shared the moment he told his wife about winnings
- Israel Salas-Rodriguez, Senior Breaking News Reporter
- Israel Salas-Rodriguez, Senior Breaking News Reporter
THE winner of the $1.3 billion Powerball Jackpot said he will use his newfound wealth to help battle his cancer diagnosis.
Cheng Saephan, 46, was unmasked as the winner of the April 7 drawing as he expressed his excitement about his family's blessing.
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Saephan told reporters he had a good feeling when he, his wife, Duanpen Saephan, 37, and their friend, Laiza Liem Chao, 55, purchased 20 lottery tickets in the days before the April 7 drawing.
"I felt excited... I was thinking, my family, they will have a good life," Saephan said.
"I am grateful for the lottery, and how I have been blessed.
"How am I going to have time to spend all of this money?" he added.
Read more in The U.S. Sun
Saephan was born in Laos in 1977 and moved to the United States in 1994.
He was only one of the three winners present at the ceremony in Salem, Oregon, on Monday.
The father of two said he's been unable to work since 2016 after being diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Now, thanks to his new riches, Saephan said he can afford the best doctors to help with his treatment.
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"I am able to provide for my family and my health," he added.
"My life has been changed. Now I can bless my family and hire a good doctor for myself."
Historic winning Powerball ticket bought by mystery billionaire at store that made a Megabucks millionaire months before
Saephan explained how he wrote the numbers he played in the Powerball Lottery on a sheet of paper and slept with it under his pillow in the days before the drawing.
"I prayed to God to help me," he told reporters.
"My kids are young, and I'm not that healthy."
Saephan, who described himself as a regular lotto player, said his new wealth will not mark the end of his lottery obsession.
"I might get lucky again," he said, laughing, "I'll keep playing."
Saephan said the trio decided to take the lump sum option, which ended up being approximately $422 million after taxes, according to the Oregon Lottery Commission.
The commission said the three will divide the earnings evenly.
Saephan said he will use the money to buy his family's dream house.
He remembered calling his wife, who was driving to work, to share the news, "I told her, 'What are you doing now?' and she said, 'I'm driving on the way to work,' and I told her, 'You don't have to go work now.'"
Saephan said he doesn't plan on moving out of Oregon, "I love Oregon. I've been here 30 years, so I'm not going to move out. I'm going to stay here."
The father of two purchased the ticket at a Plaid Pantry store in northeast Portland on April 6.
Read More on The US Sun
The winning tickets consisted of the numbers 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, and the red Powerball 9.
Saephan's winning ticket was the eighth-largest jackpot in US history.
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Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro - $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck - $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner - $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida - $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner - $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner - he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden - $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner - $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao - $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Alvarez - $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club - $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown winner - $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
Topics
- Cancer (disease)
- Lotto
- Powerball Lottery
- US Lottery
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