Liam Payne’s Legacy Revealed: One Direction Star’s £24.3m Fortune
The legacy of Liam Payne, the late One Direction star, has been revealed after he tragically passed away in October last year at the age of 31. According to court documents, Liam left behind a staggering £24.3m fortune. The news was reported by The Sun, which has been documenting the singer’s life and legacy.
Liam died intestate, meaning he didn’t leave a will stating what should be done with his money. However, documents show that the court has granted power of administration of his estate to Cheryl Tweedy, his former partner and the mother of his eight-year-old son Bear. Top music lawyer Richard Bray, partner in a London-based legal firm, has also been named as an administrator.
When someone dies intestate, there is a legally binding order of who will inherit their estate, with spouses given first preference. However, under UK’s rules of intestacy, it is likely that Liam’s money will be placed in trust for his son, while his girlfriend at the time of his death, Kate Cassidy, will receive nothing as they were not married or in a civil partnership.
The Sun reports that Liam’s estate is valued at £28,595,000, which after expenses and debts were paid, saw the figure reduced to £24,280,000. Cheryl Tweedy was named the administrator on behalf of their son Bear, eight, who will eventually inherit the money.
It is estimated that as many as 40 million Brits currently do not have a will. A friend, family member or solicitor must apply to be the estate’s administrator and receive a grant letter from the High Court. They are then put in charge of administering the estate.
Liam’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, has been candidly documenting her grief since his death in interviews and on social media. She had been with him until two days before his passing and recalled their final exchange, which she described as a "heartfelt goodbye".
In an interview with Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, Kate shared the comfort she finds in their final exchange. She said: "I remember sitting there with him and I was going on and on and on about how much I love him. And he laughed and interrupted me and was like: ‘Kate you’re gonna miss your flight, your car is in the driveway.’"
Liam then added: "You’re acting like this is the last time you are ever gonna see me again." Kate said she laughed, unaware of what was to come.
Liam is survived by his son Bear, who he welcomed with singer Cheryl Tweedy in March 2017. The pair had been dating for a year. When they split the following year, Liam wrote: "We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world."
He was co-parenting with the former X Factor judge, whom he met on the hit ITV1 talent show, and said he saw his son up to two to three times a week. Liam walked hand-in-hand with his son in a final post with the lad he had once described as a "mini me".
In a separate video in August, he said: "He’s getting so big now. He’s a big boy and he looks like a mini me. As if we needed any more me in the world." Meanwhile, in and interview with People in 2022, Liam gushed: "I make sure when I see him, he has 100 per cent of my time and I’m not d***ing around."
Liam has amassed his fortune through being in One Direction, his solo career and touring. The band went on to sell 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful boybands of all time.
This comes as Liam’s tragic final hours before he fell to his death were released in court documents earlier this month. Rogelio "Roger" Nores and two staff members at the hotel had been charged with manslaughter but were cleared, it was revealed in February.
Liam James Payne was born on August 29, 1993, and was an English singer and songwriter. He shot to fame as a member of the global boyband phenomenon One Direction. Liam made his debut as a singer when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2008. After being eliminated as a solo artist, he auditioned again in 2010 and was put into a group with four other contestants to form One Direction.
The group parted ways in 2015, when they went on a hiatus. Liam’s legacy will live on through his music and his son Bear, who will inherit his fortune.
