Earlier this month, the winner of the $1.3 billion U.S. Powerball jackpot was identified as a Laotian-born American immigrant currently battling cancer.
According to the Associated Press, on the 29th, Cheng Saephan (46), a Portland resident, held a press conference as the first-place winner of the Powerball lottery organized by the Oregon Lottery Association. Oregon state law mandates the disclosure of the identity of the first-place lottery winner, except under exceptional circumstances.
Saephan, who appeared at the press conference with a shaved head due to his cancer treatment, introduced himself as an immigrant, saying, “I was born in Laos in 1977 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1994.” He added that he had been diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and has been unable to work since then, currently undergoing cancer treatment.
“Along with my wife and a friend, we bought 20 lottery tickets,” Saephan recalled, noting that he had a good feeling at the time of purchase.
Although the lottery prize is $1.3 billion, Saephan will receive a lump sum of $422 million after taxes.
He announced that he and his wife plan to split the winnings equally with their friend.
He expressed hope that he could support his family and health, saying, “I will find a good doctor for myself.”
The Associated Press reported that he also wondered, “How am I going to have time to spend all of this money? How long will I live?”
The $1.3 billion prize is the fourth-largest in Powerball history and the eighth-largest among all lotteries, including Mega Millions.
The largest lottery prize in U.S. history was $2.04 billion from the Powerball lottery in November 2022.