‘No need to work anymore’: cancer-hit Laotian man in US lands US$400 million in lottery after sharing jackpot with pal
- Moves to US in 1994, works as aerospace machinist, has 8-year cancer fight
- Wins record Powerball payout, happy for family who he says can ‘live good life’
After an eight-year battle with cancer, a Laotian-born American migrant won a US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot, splitting the winnings with his wife and a friend, as well as finding himself a “good doctor”.
Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, a 46-year-old aerospace machinist who emigrated to the US in 1994, claimed the prize on April 29, with his wife, Duanpen Saephan, 37, and their friend Laiza Chao, 55.
After taxes, the win amounted to about US$422 million, the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot in history.
Chao, who contributed US$100 towards the lottery tickets, will receive half the money, while the Saephans will each take 25 per cent.
As soon as Saephan made the exciting discovery, he called his wife and then his friend.
“She was driving to work, but I told her, ‘There’s no need to work now!’” the thrilled winner said.