The Oregon Lottery unveiled the fortunate trio who clinched the $1.326 billion Powerball prize in a momentous announcement on Monday.
At the Oregon Lottery Headquarters in Salem, Oregon, Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, alongside their close friend Laiza Chao, were officially declared the winners of this colossal lottery, which had been drawn earlier in the month.
Cheng Saephan, an immigrant from Laos settled in Portland, expressed the profound impact of the win on his life, particularly in light of his ongoing eight-year battle with cancer.
“Winning this lottery is a life-changing moment for my family. I’m filled with joy knowing they will have a comfortable life,” Saephan shared during the press conference. “Considering my ongoing battle with cancer, this win brings a sense of relief. It means I can access quality medical care and my wife and I can finally purchase a home with our winnings,” he added.
Having immigrated to the United States in 1994, Saephan previously worked in the aerospace industry. The trio, consisting of Saephan, his wife, and their friend Laiza Chao, purchased 20 Powerball tickets with hopes of hitting the jackpot.
Reflecting on the moment they discovered their triumph, Saephan recounted, “I called Laiza while she was on her way to work and told her she didn’t need to go in anymore; we had won the lottery, we had hit the jackpot!”
The staggering $1.326 billion Powerball prize stands as the fourth-largest in Powerball history and the eighth-largest among all U.S. jackpot games, as confirmed by the Oregon Lottery.
On April 6, the winning ticket, matching all six Powerball numbers, was sold at the Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland, Oregon.
“This is our first winner on such a grand scale, so it’s incredibly thrilling for us,” remarked Melanie Mesaros, spokesperson for the Oregon Lottery, speaking to ABC News on April 7.
The winners now face the choice between receiving a lump sum of $621 million or opting for annual payments of the full $1.3 billion, both subject to pre-tax deductions. The latter option entails an immediate payment followed by 29 annual installments, each increasing by 5% annually.
The jackpot winnings are subject to federal and state taxes in Oregon.
In recognition of their role in selling the winning ticket, the Plaid Pantry location in northeast Portland will receive a $100,000 bonus from the lottery.
Jonathan Polonsky, President and CEO of Plaid Pantry, expressed delight at the news, stating, “We’re thrilled to learn that one of our 104 Oregon stores sold the $1.3 billion dollar Powerball ticket. This store is among our newest and most cherished. The proceeds from the Oregon Lottery support numerous programs benefiting everyone in the state, and we’ve been proud partners with the Oregon Lottery since its inception.”
The individuals holding the winning ticket worth $1.326 billion came forward on April 8 and underwent a thorough vetting process before their identities were disclosed.
“This monumental jackpot win marks a historic moment for the Oregon Lottery,” remarked Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells in a press release on April 8. “We’re taking all necessary measures to verify the winner before disbursing the prize money, which will understandably take some time.”
The Powerball jackpot had surged to an estimated $1.3 billion ahead of the April 6 drawing following a streak without a jackpot winner, tying a record.
The Powerball had remained unclaimed since January 1, when a ticket sold in Michigan secured an $842.4 million jackpot.
In 2022, California witnessed the largest U.S. lottery jackpot, valued at $2.04 billion.
Powerball, a multi-state jackpot, is operated across 44 states, including the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, according to the Oregon Lottery.
With tickets priced at $2 per play, the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot stand at 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball statistics.