Aenoi Phetxoumphone, 29, of Webster City, said he cried when he realized he had won the top prize in “Lifetime Riches’ instant-scratch game. He had purchased the last chance in a box of $20 scratch tickets.

“I just said, Wow. Wow. I can’t believe this.”

Phetxoumphone, whose name is pronounced a-noy Pit-zoom-pawn, was born to parents who had escaped war in Laos. The family initially came to California and he arrived in Webster City 13 years ago.

He and his wife, Boonnyou, 26, have four children. She and his brother, Choy, 25, joined him at a joyous news conference Monday at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Des Moines.

The lucky player explained that his success began when he purchased a $2 ticket that won a prize, which resulted in him winning again with a $10 ticket. That led him to buy the $20 Lifetime Riches ticket.

He said he scratched the ticket and showed it to his nine-year-old daughter, who told him, “Daddy. It is a $40 with a K on it.” That meant he won $40,000 a year for 25 years.

He elected to take a lump-sum cash option of $650,000, which netted him $455,000 on Monday after state and federal taxes were paid.

Phetxoumphone works as a machine operator at Automatic Machine Products Inc. in Webster City. He plans to continue work and intends to invest his prize money.

“I love my boss. I love my job and I love my town,” he said. “It’s a nice peaceful town and everybody likes one another.”
;)

Congratulations to him, and I hope other Lao-Americans have the same luck in the future. I'm surprised that he didn't want to remain anonymous.

So are you saying that he ended up receiving less than half of his winnings, because he opted to take a lump sum?

After 35% taxes and lump sum $455,000. If he took payment she would've got $655,000. Two other Lao-American also won. Lao lady in Seatle, Washington states won $55 million in 2006, and in 2004 another Lao person won $7.8 million in New York.


Admin Saovaluck wrote on 14^th Feb, 2011 at 10:24pm:

Congratulations to him, and I hope other Lao-Americans have the same luck in the future. I'm surprised that he didn't want to remain anonymous. So are you saying that he ended up receiving less than half of his winnings, because he opted to take a lump sum?

She? I thought you said it was a He, who won it.

I guess $455,000 can be compared to winning a house. It can be life changing if they make good use of the money.

Anything around $1 million is quite a large winning , but gee $8 and $55 million? They must have gotten the shock of their life.

Does Laos have powerball? In the US powerball can go up to $300 million or more. It only cost $1 to buy each ticket. With $455,000 you can buy pretty nice house for around $250,000 and live a good live. House in the US is cheap right now.
:)

Here is something shocking. Some people go broke in couple of year and spend all their money. After winning a powerball. You have more you spend more.
:o


Admin Saovaluck wrote on 15^th Feb, 2011 at 4:38am:

She? I thought you said it was a He, who won it. I guess $455,000 can be compared to winning a house. It can be life changing if they make good use of the money. Anything around $1 million is quite a large winning , but gee $8 and $55 million? They must have gotten the shock of their life.

awesome, reminds me of the time jerry yang (hmong man) won 8 million from blackjack haha, i think he's the only hmong million lolz

anyway i think i would go the 40k per year route, i mean even if i dont live to spend it all my kids can.

Yep I remember that one when Jerry Yang won $8 million from poker tournament. That was nice. Have any Hmong-American won powerball?
8-)


longhang wrote on 21^st Feb, 2011 at 7:24am:

awesome, reminds me of the time jerry yang (hmong man) won 8 million from blackjack haha, i think he's the only hmong million lolz anyway i think i would go the 40k per year route, i mean even if i dont live to spend it all my kids can.

llX wrote on 21^st Feb, 2011 at 10:13pm:

Yep I remember that one when Jerry Yang won $8 million from poker tournament. That was nice. Have any Hmong-American won powerball? 8-) longhang wrote on 21st Feb, 2011 at 7:24am: awesome, reminds me of the time jerry yang (hmong man) won 8 million from blackjack haha, i think he's the only hmong million lolz anyway i think i would go the 40k per year route, i mean even if i dont live to spend it all my kids can.

not  yet, but i think someday i will the powerball haha,