Man With Cancer Wins RM1.98 Billion Lottery. Now He Plans To Find A Good Doctor
Cheng “Charlie” Saephan has been battling cancer for eight years.
By Sukhbir Cheema — 21 May 2024, 01:17 PM
A cancer-stricken man found himself to be an overnight billionaire after he won a Powerball jackpot in Oregon, US, recently
Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, born in Laos but migrated to the US in 1994, won a USD1.3 billion (RM6.1 billion) Powerball jackpot on 29 April 2024 — the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot win in Oregon's history.
According to The Guardian, the 46-year-old aerospace machinist received USD422 million (RM1.98 billion) after taxes.
Saephan shared 50% of his winnings with his 55-year-old friend Laiza Chao, who had contributed USD100 (RM469) to purchase the lottery tickets.
Saephan split the remaining winnings two ways with his 37-year-old wife, Duanpen Saephan.
The day before the draw's announcement, Chao had texted Saephan with a photo of the lottery tickets, joking that they were billionaires
"We’re billionaires," Chao's text read. It became a prophetic message, according to Saephan.
When he found out that they had won, Saephan called his wife and then Chao.
"She (Duanpen) was driving to work, but I told her, 'There’s no need to work now!'" Saephan quipped.
"I’m in the middle of battling cancer, so I am thinking about how I am going to have time to spend all this money," he said to the press.
Saephan, who has been battling cancer for eight years, plans to get himself a good doctor and buy a dream home for his family
The father of two also added that he was relieved that money is no longer a worry for his family.
Saephan revealed that he had jotted down his winning number on a piece of paper, several weeks before the draw. He had kept it under his pillow while he slept, and prayed for good fortune.
"I don’t want to die until I have done something for my family," Saephan said.
Although the winning numbers were generated by a computer, Saephan believes that God answered his prayers.
"God picked for me."
