Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, a 46-year-old resident of Portland, Oregon, captured national attention when he won a historic $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot in the drawing held on April 6, 2024. Saephan, a Laotian immigrant of Iu Mien heritage and a father of two, had spent years working as a machinist while courageously battling cancer. In the weeks leading up to the draw, he had written out lottery numbers on a slip of paper and slept with it under his pillow, praying for a blessing that would secure his young family’s future and help him afford specialized medical care.
The winning ticket was bought at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland as part of a batch of more than 20 tickets. Saephan did not go into the draw alone—he split the ticket purchase with his 37-year-old wife, Duanpen, and their 55-year-old friend, Laiza Chao, who had chipped in $100 toward the batch. When Saephan realized they had matched all five numbers plus the Powerball, he immediately called Chao on her morning commute to break the news, famously telling her, “You don’t have to go to work anymore”. The Plaid Pantry retailer that sold the ticket also received a $100,000 bonus for selling the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot ticket in U.S. history.
The trio officially claimed the historic prize at Oregon Lottery headquarters on April 29, 2024. They chose the lump-sum cash option, which totaled roughly $621 million before taxes and delivered a net payout of $422,309,193.97 after required withholdings. Under their split agreement, Chao received 50% of the cash prize, while Saephan and his wife divided the remaining 50%. Expressing deep relief and gratitude, Saephan noted that the win provided complete financial security for his family and allowed him to hire top medical specialists to support his ongoing health treatments.
Saephan passed away on January 17, 2026, at the age of 47, leaving behind a legacy of generosity and love for his family.