Liam Payne’s minor son, Bear, will inherit nearly $28 million after the singer’s tragic death.
The One Direction singer’s 9-year-old son, whom he shared with ex Cheryl Cole, has been named the sole beneficiary of Payne’s estate, according to court docs obtained by TMZ.
Bear will be able to access some of the money now; however, most of it will be held in a trust until he turns 18.
Because the “Night Changes” singer did not have a will at the time of his death, Cole and music lawyer Richard Bray were named as administrators of Payne’s estate.
However, they were only given the authority to collect and preserve the late pop star’s assets.
Payne died in October 2024 after falling off the balcony of his third-story hotel room in the Casa Sur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31.
The “What Makes You Beautiful” singer suffered multiple traumas, including a fractured skull, which led to internal and external bleeding.
At the time of Payne’s death, he had a blood-alcohol content that was four times the legal limit and had multiple drugs in his system, including cocaine, crack and benzodiazepine.
In February 2025, three of the five people charged with manslaughter in connection with Payne’s death had their charges dropped.
Charges against the late singer’s friend Rogelio “Roger” Nores and two CasaSur Palermo hotel employees were dismissed.
However, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz, the two men accused of selling Payne cocaine, are still awaiting trial.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).