The mystery winner of the $1.3 billion Powerball prize earlier this month has been revealed — and it’s a heartwarming story.
The lucky ticket was purchased in Oregon by 46-year-old Cheng Saephan, an immigrant from Laos who’s been battling cancer for eight years.
Saephan purchased the ticket at a Plaid Pantry store in Portland for the April 6 drawing. Plaid Pantry will also receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
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Saephan chose to take his winnings as a lump sum payout, which will equal $422 million after taxes. It will be split amongst himself (he’ll take 50%), his wife, Duanpen, and his friend, Laiza, who gave him $100 towards buying tickets.
The lucky winner told local outlet KOIN 6 that when he found out he had won, he called Laiza and told her, “You don’t have to work anymore.”
“I am grateful for the lottery and how I have been blessed,” Saephan told the outlet. I am able to provide for my family and my health.
Saephan, who had his most recent chemotherapy treatment just last week, said he plans to use the funds toward finding a “good doctor” to help him with the rest of his treatment.
I am in the middle of battling cancer, so I was thinking, ‘How am I going to have time to spend all of this money?'” Saephan joked. “I might get lucky again. I’ll keep playing.”
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Saephan’s jackpot is the fourth largest in U.S. history. The largest was a California-winning ticket that garnered a $2.04 billion win in 2022.
This is, however, the largest prize ever won in Oregon, beating out the record of a Powerball win in 2005 for $340 million.
