A Portland resident facing a serious health crisis received the news of a lifetime after buying a Powerball lottery ticket.
Historic Powerball Win
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In an envy-inducing win, two people took home a historic $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot this week. And for one of them, the news could truly be a lifesaver.
Chipping in to Win
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Cheng “Charlie” Saephan is a 46-year-old Laotian man living in Portland, Oregon. Saephan and a family friend Liza Chao, 55, both chipped in to purchase a batch of Powerball tickets and were overwhelmed to find that they were taking home the prize.
A Much-Needed Win
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For Saephan, it’s world-changing news. He has been battling cancer since 2016, and the cost of regular chemotherapy has been a burden for his family.
Finding a Good Doctor
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During a news conference held by the Oregon Lottery on Monday, Saephan and Chao announced their win, with Saephan sharing plans to “find a good doctor for myself.”
“My Life Has Been Changed”
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“I am grateful for the lottery and how I have been blessed,” he told reporters at the conference. “I am able to provide for my family and my health. … My life has been changed. Now I can bless my family and hire a good doctor for myself.”
“How Long Will I Live?”
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He discovered that they had the winning number just a day after purchasing tickets. His first thought was “How am I going to have time to spend all of this money? How long will I live?”
“We Won the Jackpot!”
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He immediately called his friends to share the news. “I call Laiza as she’s driving to work, I told her you don’t have to go to work now; we won the lottery; we won the jackpot!” he told reporters.
Guaranteed Security
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Saephan, a machinist in the aerospace industry, shares two young children with his wife Duanpen. The win is an enormous relief for the couple, who can now ensure that their family is provided for throughout Saephan’s treatment.
Praying for a Win
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He shared that he had regularly purchased lottery tickets over the years, and often prayed over the ticket numbers. “I prayed to God to help me,” he said. “My kids are young and I’m not that healthy.”
Cross-Continent Migration
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Originally from Laos, Saephan moved to Thailand and then to the US in 1994. He identifies as belonging to the southeast Asian ethnic group lu Mien, many of whom had to flee Laos during the Vietnam War. He has resided in Portland for 30 years.
Portland Plaid Pantry
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The pair purchased their winning ticket in April from a Portland Plaid Pantry convenience store. Their names were announced as part of an Oregon law that requires lottery winners to be identified.
“We Are Thrilled”
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“Plaid Pantry is thrilled to learn that one of our 104 Oregon stores sold the $1.3 billion dollar Powerball ticket,” said Plaid Pantry CEO Jonathan Polonsky.
Partner With Oregon Lottery
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“This store is one of our newest and most loved stores. Proceeds from the Oregon Lottery fund many programs that benefit everyone in the state, and we’ve been a proud partner with the Oregon Lottery since the very beginning,” he continued.
$100,000 Reward
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The winning convenience store will be given a $100,000 reward for selling the winning ticket.
Vetting Process
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They were also required to go through a stringent security and vetting process before they could claim the prize.
Choosing the Lump Sum
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Saephan and Chao were given the option of accepting their winnings in 30-year annual installments or taking a reduced lump sum worth $621 million before tax. They chose the lump sum.
$422 Million After Taxes
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Lottery winnings are subject to both state and federal taxes, so they will go home with $422 million split between them after taxes.
Buying the Dream Home
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Saephan told reporters that his first purchase using the winnings would be his family’s dream house in Portland.
Fourth Largest Powerball
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This recent Powerball win is the fourth largest of its type and the eighth largest of all jackpot lottery games in the country.
Biggest Prize in 2022
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The largest-ever jackpot lottery in the US was a stunning $2.04 billion prize won in late 2022 by state resident Edwin Castro, who declined to speak to reporters about the historic Powerball win.
The post – Lottery Lifeline: Cancer-Fighting Immigrant’s $1.3 Billion Win – first appeared on Mechanic Insider.
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The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional financial advice.
