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Cheng accepted $422 million after deducting taxes. (Representative Image)
The Powerball jackpot officials confirmed that Cheng Saephan acquired the winning ticket for April 7 in Portland, Oregon.
Medical treatments can be quite expensive for most people. Individuals often also worry about their family’s financial situation when their illness renders them incapable of supporting them. In the latest, a certain surprising incident can wave off most of these worries. Cheng Saephan, a 46-year-old immigrant from Laos has been fighting cancer for some time now. He won a Powerball jackpot worth $1.3 billion. Yes, you read that right! Cheng now aims to solve major issues relating to financial security and medical expenses with his winning amount.
According to a report by BBC, the Powerball jackpot officials confirmed that Cheng Saephan acquired the winning ticket for April 7 in Portland, Oregon. After the announcement of his win, Cheng Saephan accepted a lump sum compensation of $422 million after deducting taxes. Reportedly, he intends to split the amount evenly between his wife and a close friend. He told the portal, “Now I can bless my family and hire a good doctor for myself.” Cheng has been undergoing chemotherapy for the past 8 years. Reportedly, he was born in Laos and travelled to Thailand in 1987 before emigrating to the United States in 1994.
Cheng Saephan further told the publication that, faced with a lot of financial troubles, he has always prayed to God for help. He mentioned his plans to buy his dream house with the money and would continue playing Powerball in the hope of winning again. He stated that, along with his wife and friend, they bought more than 20 Powerball tickets for the April 7 draw. As per the results, the winning numbers were 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, and the red Powerball 9.
The winning ticket was purchased from a Plaid Pantry convenience shop in Portland, according to the Oregon Lottery. The retailer is awarded a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket, according to CNN.
As per BBC, this was the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball’s history, with the biggest so far being $2.04 billion in 2022. Meanwhile, Powerball tickets are considered as one of the cheapest gambles in the US. They are available in 45 states, D.C, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The game, however, has experienced significant changes in recent times. For instance, earlier, participants selected five numbers from 1 to 59 and a Powerball from 1 to 35. The selection pool has been enlarged to 1 to 69, but the Powerball range is reduced to 1 to 26.