Who won the historic $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot?
OREGON'S $1.3 billion Powerball was the state's largest-ever lottery jackpot.
The winners of the huge cash prize were announced on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Who won the historic $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot?
As The Oregonian/OregonLive reported, the Oregon Lottery announced the winners of the historic $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot "with great fanfare" on Monday, April 29, 2024.
According to the outlet, the winners include 55-year-old Laiza Liem Chao of Milwaukie, 46-year-old Cheng Saephan of Portland, and 37-year-old Duanpen Saephan of Portland.
Cheng was the only winner present at the official announcement at the Oregon Lottery headquarters in Salem.
"First, I want to thank God for giving me this beautiful prize," said Cheng, per the publication.
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Cheng — who used to be a machinist working on airplane parts — was born in Laos and later relocated to the US from Thailand in 1994.
He has two children with his wife, Duanpen Saephan.
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, he "is especially grateful that he will be able to provide a comfortable life for his family" following his lotto victory.
Cheng has been battling cancer since 2016 and does not think he will have that much time to enjoy his newfound fortune.
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"How am I going to have time to spend all of this money?” he said.
The father of two said he plans to purchase a house.
A man at the Oregon Lottery's official announcement in Salem "who identified himself as Cheng Saephan's pastor" said the lottery winner agreed to send him on missionary trips to Thailand, Laos, and possibly China.
When were the winning tickets sold?
KGW8 reported that the winning ticket was purchased on April 6, 2024, at a Plaid Pantry in Portland.
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, Cheng said he, his wife Duanpen, and their friend Chao purchased 20 lottery tickets for $200.
The Oregon Lottery said the store will receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
"I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Saephans and Ms. Chao on this historic win," Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells said in a statement, per the publication.
"Not only is the prize life-changing for the three of them and their families, it's also a huge win for the state."
How is the jackpot split?
Per The Oregonian/OregonLive, the $1.326 billion prize was divided amongst the three winners.
"If they decide to take the money in a one-time payout, rather than as a 30-year annuity, that would bring the winnings down to $621 million," the outlet stated before the prize was split.
"State and federal taxes would then leave them with an estimated $329 million."
The outlet then reported that Cheng Saephan, Duanpen Saephan, and Chao had already received their prize.
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Lottery spokesperson Melanie Mesaros said they split the $422,309,193.97 that was left of the $1.326 billion prize following state and federal taxes.
The winners "opted for the one-time payout rather than the 30-year annuity, which also brought the amount down," per the outlet.