Liam Payne’s seven-year-old son, Bear Gray Payne, has been named the sole beneficiary of the late One Direction star’s estate, nearly two years after the singer’s tragic death.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Bear was awarded Payne’s estate, valued at nearly $28 million. While a portion of the funds is currently accessible, the majority will be held in a trust until Bear reaches the age of 18.
Following Payne’s death, it was revealed that the “Strip That Down” singer had died without a will. As a result, Cheryl Cole, Payne’s ex-girlfriend and Bear’s mother, along with music lawyer Richard Bray, were appointed as executors of the estate.
Liam and Cheryl’s Relationship
Payne and Cole first met in 2008 when she served as a judge on The X Factor and he auditioned as a solo artist. He returned to the show two years later and eventually became a member of the globally successful boy band One Direction.
The pair reunited at the 2015 X Factor final, where One Direction performed, and were seen embracing. In January 2016, Cole filed for divorce from her then-husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, and by March of that year, she and Payne officially announced their relationship on social media. Cole denied any overlap between her marriage and her new relationship with Payne.
After making numerous public appearances together on red carpets and at events, the couple welcomed their son Bear in March 2017.
The End of Their Relationship
Less than a year after Bear’s birth, engagement and breakup rumors began circulating. Cole was first spotted wearing a large diamond ring, followed by reports that the couple had started to drift apart.
On July 1, 2018, the pair shared identical joint statements on their respective Twitter accounts (now X), announcing their separation.
“Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It was a difficult decision for us,” the statement read. “We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate this situation together.”
Liam Payne’s Death
More than seven years after their breakup, on October 16, 2024, Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31 years old.
In the days following his death, Cole shared an emotional tribute on Instagram. “Liam wasn’t just a pop star and a celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and father to our 7-year-old son. A son who now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again,” she wrote.
She also expressed concern about the media coverage surrounding his death. “What concerns me most is the fact that Bear will one day have access to the vile reports and media exploitation that we have seen. It breaks my heart even more that I won’t be able to protect him from this in the future,” she continued.
Reports indicated that the singer had multiple substances in his system, including what was described as “pink cocaine,” at the time of the fall. Two men were arrested in connection with supplying drugs to Payne, while three others were initially charged with neglect and manslaughter. The latter charges were dropped by an Argentine federal appeals court in February 2025.
