Cancer Patient Shares $1.3 billion Powerball Jackpot

It’s been revealed that three players from Oregon, USA, shared the recent $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot. One of them is Cheng ‘Charlie’ Saephan, 46, from Portland who spoke about the win at a press conference held in Salem.

Cancer battle

The win comes at a difficult time for Mr Saephan. Eight years ago he had to stop working after being diagnosed with cancer. Just a week before this Powerball jackpot win he’d had some chemotherapy. He told the press conference that he has been “blessed with this prize.”

He confirmed that the $1.3 billion Powerball win will be shared with his wife, Duanpen, 37 and a female friend, Laiza Chao, 55, from Milwaukie.

Speaking about the Powerball win, he said that now he’ll be able to “provide for my family and my health.” The lucky player has only played lottery games irregularly. That was until the past four or five months with more tickets being purchased.

He’d had a feeling success was possible but admits “I didn’t think I was gonna win this big.” The win means a much more secure future for his family.

Dream home

One of his first purchases will be a “dream home." He’s lived in Oregon for 30 years and plans to continue living in the state and keep playing the Powerball draw. This was the first jackpot win since   a Michigan ticket won $842.4 million on January 1.

The  morning after the draw he received a text from his sister the morning after the draw. She’d seen an Oregon ticket had won the jackpot and wondered if it might be him who’d won.

He then went through a pile of unchecked tickets and on the very last line of the remaining tickets discovered their jackpot win.

Laiza was contacted and she was on her way to work. He then told her “You don’t have to go anymore.”

The winnings were paid in a one-off lump sum of $621 million before taxes. The next Powerball draw is on Friday with a $203 million jackpot.

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