Cheng Saephan, a 46-year-old immigrant from Laos battling cancer, has defied the odds by winning a whopping $1.3 billion in the Powerball lottery. Officials confirmed that Mr. Saephan had purchased the winning ticket for the April 7 drawing in Portland, Oregon.
Choosing to prioritize financial security, Mr. Saephan opted for a lump sum payout of $422 million after taxes, which he plans to share equally with his wife and a close friend. This victory marks a life-changing turn for Saephan and his loved ones.
“Now I can bless my family and hire a good doctor for myself,” Mr. Saephan said BBC.
“My life has changed,” Mr Saephan added, revealing that he had prayed to God for help.
Mr. Saephan further added that he plans to use the money to buy his dream house and continue playing Powerball.
“Maybe I'll get lucky again,” he said.
Mr. Saephan has been undergoing chemotherapy for the past eight years. He said he, his wife and a friend worked together to purchase more than 20 Powerball tickets for the April 7 drawing.
The winning numbers were 22, 27, 44, 52, 69 and the red Powerball 9.
BBC reported that it was the fourth largest jackpot in Powerball history, with the largest to date being $2.04 billion in 2022.
Powerball tickets remain an affordable bet at just $2 each. You can find them in 45 US states, DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
The game has undergone some adjustments recently, most notably an increase in the ticket price. This change, along with adjustments to the number selection process, has contributed to the rise of billion-dollar jackpots.
Previously, players chose five numbers from 1 to 59 and a Powerball from 1 to 35. Now the selection pool for the first five numbers has been expanded to 1 to 69, while the Powerball range remains 1 to 26. This seemingly small shift significantly impacted the odds of winning the top prize, making it less likely (1 in 292.2 million compared to 1 in 175.2 million). In short, the new system creates a larger prize pool, but lowers your chances of winning it all.
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