Bear Payne, Age 9, Named Sole Inheritor of Liam Payne’s Estate

Liam Payne’s son Bear has been named the sole beneficiary of the singer’s estate, valued at $29,007,998, according to probate documents. Payne died in October 2024 at age 31 without leaving a will. Bear, now 9, is his only child, born during Payne’s relationship with singer Cheryl.

Cheryl, Bear’s mother, was appointed administrator of the estate in May 2025, alongside music-industry lawyer Richard Bray. The arrangement follows UK intestacy law, which prioritises children when no spouse or civil partner exists. A substantial portion of the assets will remain sealed in a trust until Bear reaches adulthood, though some funds may be released for immediate needs.

The figure reflects net value after debts and expenses. Earlier estimates had placed the gross value closer to £28.6 million, but the final number settles at just over $29 million. The court’s decision locks the inheritance to Bear alone, with no other claimants.

Payne rose to fame as one-fifth of One Direction, a group that shaped a decade of pop before its indefinite pause. His death, caused by a fall from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony, was met by a statement from former bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan: “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. … We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”

Cheryl and Payne separated in 2018, but remained connected through co-parenting. The estate’s resolution comes as the first formal closure of Payne’s public affairs, months after a global wave of fan tributes and industry remembrance.