Liam Payne died without a will, leaving behind a £24.3 million fortune that his former partner Cheryl is now responsible for managing, court documents reveal.
The former One Direction star, 31, tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2024. His death was ruled as caused by “polytrauma” — multiple internal and external injuries — with toxicology tests later revealing traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system.
Official papers show that Cheryl, 41, the mother of Liam’s son Bear, has been named as an administrator of his estate. Music industry lawyer Richard Mark Bray is also listed as a co-administrator.
Under UK intestacy laws, a person’s estate typically passes first to their spouse and then to their children. As such, it’s likely Cheryl will place the fortune in trust for their young son.
The gross value of Liam Payne’s estate is listed as £28.6 million, with a net value — after debts and expenses — of £24.3 million.
Payne’s death sent shockwaves through the music world. At the Brit Awards earlier this year, he was honoured with a touching video tribute, featuring clips of him with his family, his X Factor journey, and his meteoric rise with One Direction.
Although manslaughter charges against three hotel staff were dropped following an appeal, two hotel workers still face prosecution in Argentina for allegedly supplying Payne with drugs — charges that could carry sentences of up to 15 years in prison.
