The huge sum Liam Payne’s son Bear could inherit has been revealed after it was announced ex-partner Cheryl has taken control of the singer’s £24,000,000 estate.
The One Direction singer died on October 16, age 31, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
His funeral took place on on November 20, surrounded by his loved ones, including his former bandmates and ex-girlfriend, Cheryl, with whom he shares eight-year-old son Bear.
It has since been reported that the Night Changes hitmaker died ‘intestate’, meaning he didn’t leave a will or plans for what should happen with his money.
The Sun reports that Payne left £28,595,000, with £24,280,000 left after expenses and debts were paid off. It has been reported that Girls Aloud singer Cheryl and music lawyer Richard Bray have been granted power of administration,
Bear is reportedly set to inherit the entire estate, which could be placed into a trust for him to access in 10 year’s time when he turns 18, meaning he could receive a whopping £48 million.
This is Money’s Simon Lambert told MailOnline: ‘This is Money’s long-term saving and investing calculator shows that £24 million invested over ten years – until Bear is 18 – with an average 5 per cent annual return could grow to £39.5 million.
‘If a higher 7 per cent average annual return was achieved, the £24 million could grow to £48 million over 10 years.’
They also said that Bear could receive the full amount as bereaved minor trusts are exempt from inheritance tax.
Although Payne was in a relationship with girlfriend Kate Cassidy, they were not married or in a civil partnership, meaning she could receive nothing.
This is due to UK intestacy rules, which mean that married partners, civil partners, and some relatives can inherit the deceased’s fortune after their death.
Sources close to Cheryl have insisted ‘she will always do the right thing by her beloved son’.
‘It is a small consolation that Bear will never want for anything, that he will at least benefit from that,’ one source told the Daily Mail.
‘Liam had some very sensible people around him for a time and he adored Bear so much. He always wanted to do the right thing by him financially.’
An insider told The Sun that Bear may not be able to access his inheritance until he is 25, rather than 18.
They claimed: ‘Cheryl wants to protect Bear and is going to stop him receiving Liam’s inheritance until he’s at least 25 years old, if not older.
‘She feels she wants Bear to be of an age where he can make informed decisions about the money.
‘There are lots of conversations ongoing and Cheryl may even allow the money to be given only in chunks throughout his late 20s and 30s.’
They added that the money will be invested until Bear is old enough to receive it, as Cheryl wants him to have his own ‘ambition’ and ‘drive to succeed’ without the immediate financial back-up.
‘She’s aware that people may want to befriend him because they are aware of his situation,’ they added.
Cheryl and Payne welcomed their only son, Bear, on March 22, 2017. They split a year later, but continued to co-parent until Payne’s tragic death in 2024.
Metro has contacted representatives of Cheryl, Liam Payne, and Richard Bray for comment
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