Managing her ex Liam Payne’s £24m fortune for their son is a huge added pressure for heartbroken Cheryl, a source has revealed following the One Direction singer’s tragic death
Seven months after Liam Payne tragically fell to his death from a hotel balcony, his ex partner Cheryl Tweedy has been given the responsibility of managing the £24m fortune he left behind. Court documents published last week revealed the 31-year-old One Direction star didn’t make a will prior to his death, and Cheryl and music industry lawyer Richard Bray now have responsibility for administering his estate, including his property, money and possessions.
Cheryl, 41, and Liam were together for two years until 2018 and split just over a year after their son Bear was born. Shortly after Liam’s death, a heartbroken Cheryl wrote on Instagram she was “navigating this earth shattering event” and “working through her grief at this indescribably painful time”.
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A source claims the Girls Aloud singer is now relying on a close-knit circle of friends and focusing on trying to be “the best possible mum” to Bear, now eight. “Liam not leaving a will means Cheryl is front and centre of what’s happening now,” they told us. “It’s a really sad situation and a lot for one person to handle.”
Maria Bailey, founder of Grief Specialists, a social enterprise supporting anyone experiencing grief, says when a loved one doesn’t leave a will – or a will doesn’t match expectations – it often sparks feelings of confusion, hurt and anger, on top of the sadness of the loss itself.
“You can’t have a conversation with the person, so you can’t find out their wishes, or their reasoning,” she explains. “This can feel overwhelming. Going through a bereavement is already emotionally complex, and unexpected responsibilities, like being named executor of an estate, can intensify that experience.
“When there’s no will, you can be thrust into emotionally and legally charged situations, which can lead to feelings of shock, resentment, guilt or anxiety, especially if family dynamics are strained, or if decisions are unclear.”
Liam died of “internal and external haemorrhage” and multiple traumatic injuries after falling from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on 16 October. The Argentinian prosecutor’s office said shortly afterwards that tests found traces of cocaine, alcohol and a prescription antidepressant in his body.
In December, five people were charged in connection with the tragic death, including the hotel’s manager and the receptionist, and a friend of Liam’s, but these charges were dropped earlier this year.
Two other hotel employees were also charged with supplying cocaine to the Liam on the night he died.
His funeral was held in Amersham in Buckinghamshire in November, and was attended by a string of A-listers including his former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik, as well as Simon Cowell, Cheryl and Bear, and his girlfriend at the time, Kate Cassidy.
Cheryl, along with Richard Bray, now has responsibility for managing the estate – which totals £24.3m once debts and expenses have been paid – but can’t distribute it just yet.
Maria believes it’s important for someone in a position like Cheryl’s to find “emotional space to grieve” as well as practical help, to work through the logistics of managing an estate without a will.
She adds, “Grief isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ experience, but people often cycle through emotions such as anger, sadness and confusion, especially when there are unresolved issues, or surprises relating to the estate.
“Being made responsible for another person’s legacy can stir up additional emotions, such as doubt, or heaviness, and might also raise questions, such as ‘Why me?’ or ‘What would they have wanted?’”
After splitting from Cheryl, Liam had a three-year relationship with model and actress Maya Henry, who told a magazine earlier this year that her ex was “unrecognisable” when he took drugs and she ended their relationship because “staying in his world meant losing herself”.
At the time of his death, Liam was dating model and influencer Kate Cassidy, who claimed a week after the fall that the pair had hoped to marry. Posting a tribute to Liam on her Instagram account, the 26-year-old wrote, “A few weeks ago, we sat outside on a beautiful evening manifesting our lives together.
“I keep your note close, even though you told me not to look at it. It said, ‘Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged & together forever.’”
It’s been speculated that Kate won’t receive any money from Liam’s estate. In UK law, spouses and children are usually first to claim an estate, which means Cheryl is likely to put the money in a trust for Bear.
The Newcastle-born performer will be making the decisions alongside lawyer Richard Bray, who has “represented many high profile artists, performers, managers, record labels, publishers and senior executives” in the 36 years since he qualified, according to Bray & Krais legal practice.
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