Administrator of Liam Payne’s $32.2 Million Estate Revealed, Causing a Public Stir
A court ruling in the estate case of the late One Direction member has renewed focus on who will manage — and eventually inherit — his multimillion-dollar fortune.
Nearly seven months after Liam Payne’s passing, the court appointed his former partner, Cheryl, and music industry lawyer Richard Mark Bray as co-administrators of his estate. The decision has drawn public scrutiny amid ongoing questions about how his assets will be handled in the absence of a will.
Cheryl and Liam Payne attend the BRIT Awards 2018 at The O2 Arena in London on February 21, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
Court documents obtained by People confirm that the appointment was made on May 1. The documents indicate that Liam’s estate in the U.K. has a gross value of $38 million and a net value of approximately $32.2 million. The court’s decision came under the rules of U.K. intestacy law.
According to the BBC, under U.K. law, if someone dies without a will, their children usually inherit the estate in the absence of a surviving spouse or civil partner. Liam was never married but had a son, Bear, with Cheryl.
As Bear’s mother and legal guardian, Cheryl was appointed to help oversee the estate on his behalf. The court granted them a limited form of authority, described as “to allow the administrator power to preserve the deceased’s estate until a general grant is made.”
This allows Cheryl and Bray to manage and protect the estate’s assets for now, but they cannot distribute any funds until the court issues full administration rights. News of the appointment quickly drew reactions online.
Some users questioned Cheryl’s involvement, with one writing, “They weren’t married, so tweedy should get nothing,” and another stating, “And nothing for his parents.”
Others pointed to the difference between a romantic partner and a legal guardian. One commenter noted, “I feel some kind of way, but the girlfriend doesn’t get anything just for being the girlfriend. His ex has his kid and they deserve that. If he had a will, I feel like he would have left everything to his son anyway. Maybe $1-2 mil for the girlfriend.”
Supporters defended Cheryl, highlighting her financial independence and role as Bear’s mother. “Cheryl Tweedy has her own money and fortune from her own self! People need to keep 👃 out as she is the mother of his little boy, unbelievable! Nothing to do with anyone else, humans ruin this world 🌍,” wrote one supporter.
