Oregon recently celebrated its largest-ever lottery jackpot of $1.3 billion, with the lucky winners being announced on April 29, 2024.
The winners included Laiza Liem Chao, Cheng Saephan, and Duanpen Saephan from Portland.
Cheng Saephan, a former machinist, expressed his gratitude at the Oregon Lottery headquarters in Salem, thanking God for his winnings. Born in Laos, Cheng moved to the US from Thailand in 1994 and has been battling cancer since 2016. Despite his health struggles, Cheng is thankful for the opportunity to provide a comfortable life for his family.
Cheng and his wife, Duanpen, purchased the winning ticket, along with their friend Chao, at a Plaid Pantry in Portland on April 6, 2024. The store received a hefty $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
After taxes, the three winners split the prize money, opting for a one-time payout rather than a 30-year annuity. Despite the reduced amount, each winner still received a significant sum, with Cheng, Duanpen, and Chao each taking home their share of the $422,309,193.97 remaining from the $1.326 billion prize.
The winners are grateful for their life-changing windfall and are already making plans for their newfound fortunes. Cheng, in particular, looks forward to purchasing a home and supporting missionary trips to Thailand, Laos, and China with his pastor.
The Oregon Lottery Director, Mike Wells, extended his congratulations to the winners, emphasizing the positive impact their winnings will have on their families and the state as a whole.
