Immigrant cancer patient from Laos wins record-breaking $1.3B Powerball jackpot
Cheng "Charlie" Saephan, a 46-year-old immigrant from Laos and cancer patient, has won the record-breaking $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot. Saephan, who has been fighting cancer for eight years and recently underwent chemotherapy, resides in Portland. He plans to share his winnings with a friend who contributed $100 towards the ticket purchase. At an Oregon Lottery news conference, Saephan expressed his gratitude saying "I am grateful for the lottery and how I have been blessed."
Lottery win transforms life of cancer patient
The lottery win, according to Saephan, has completely transformed his life. He believes it will enable him to provide better healthcare for himself and his family. The winning ticket was jointly purchased with Laiza Chao, a 55-year-old from Milwaukie. After buying the tickets, Chao sent a photo to Saephan jokingly declaring them billionaires. This joke turned into reality when they discovered they held the winning ticket the next day.
Winner's future plans and historic lottery win
Upon realizing their victory, Saephan immediately informed Chao that she no longer needed to work. He shared his plans to buy a home in Oregon with his winnings and continue participating in the lottery, saying "I might get lucky again." The winning ticket was purchased at a convenience store in Portland. This win marks an end to a three-month dry spell for Powerball players and is hailed as an "unprecedented jackpot win for Oregon Lottery" by its Director Mike Wells.
How likely is one to win the Powerball jackpot?
Long answer short: very unlikely! Well, this is because before the winning numbers are announced, every ticket sold in the country is examined and validated against two separate computer systems! According to the Powerball officials, every ticket sold for the drawing is accounted for and given an equal chance to win, which is why this is done. They have a jurisdiction that requires more time to do the pre-draw procedure. As for Saephan, luck was on his side!
The $1.3 billion prize is the 4th largest Powerball jackpot
Per Oregon Lottery, the $1.3 billion award is the eighth highest jackpot game in the United States and the fourth largest Powerball jackpot in history. $2.04 billion was the largest lottery prize in the United States won in California in 2022. According to reports, the winning numbers drawn back then were: 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, and the red Powerball 9.
