Liam Payne’s ‘Internal Battle’ With Ex Cheryl Cole Resurfaces After He Left His ‘Entire Fortune’ to Her & Their Son Bear
Cheryl Cole has had a bright career in the spotlight. With over two decades in the entertainment industry under her belt, her net worth reflects her hard work and dedication to her craft.
Cheryl Cole is best known for being a member of one of the top girl groups in the 2000s, Girls Aloud and a judge on The X Factor. In 2016, she entered a relationship with X Factor alum and One Direction star Liam Payne. She gave birth to their son, Bear, in 2016. After Liam died in late 2024, she made a statement “As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time. I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.”
Related: Here’s How Liam Payne’s Net Worth Compares to the Rest of One Direction
She called out “abhorrent reports and media exploitation” by tabloids, and added, “Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourself if you would like your own child or family to read them.”
What is Cheryl Cole’s net worth?
Cheryl Cole’s current net worth is $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Her net worth is about to expand after she was named an administrator on her ex-partner Liam Payne’s estate.
Liam Payne died on October 16, 2024, after falling off a balcony. The One Direction alum reportedly did not have a will when he died at the age of 31. She and music lawyer Richard Bray were named administrators in the estate, where they inherited his entire fortune and will “manage the money, but they currently have limited authority and cannot distribute it.” The BBC reported that they have a limited grant of representation, described as being “to allow the administrator power to preserve the deceased’s estate until a general grant is made.”
The estate’s gross value in the U.K. amounts to $38 million, and its net value to about $32.2 million. UK Law states that an individual who doesn’t have a will can leave the estate to any children if there is no living husband, wife, or civil partner. Once Cheryl and Liam’s son Bear is of age, he will inherit the estate.
After Bear’s birth, Liam revealed that he had an internal struggle when it came to choosing their son’s name. In May 2017, Liam told Total Access: “It was like an internal battle. I wanted a more traditional name, and she wanted a name that was more unusual. And the reason she chose Bear in the end was because Bear is a name that, when you leave a room, you won’t forget. And I like that. When I look at him, he’s just Bear.”
He continued, “At first, I wasn’t really having it. I was like, ‘I’m not really sure. I don’t really understand.’ Now, I look at him and he’s Bear. You become your name as you get older anyway.” A few months later, Liam shared how one of the midwives at his birth called him ‘Bear’ in the delivery room, and the name carried on.
A part of Cheryl’s income also came from her career in the massive girl group Girls Aloud. The Sun reported that she rakes in an estimated £6 million ($7.9 million) from her music career. The group, which consists of Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh, and Sarah Harding, formed in 2002 when they all competed in Popstars: The Rivals. They hit the top of the Billboard charts in 2008 with their song “The Promise.” After a long hiatus, the group reunited in 2023 and embarked on a reunion tour. The Girls Aloud Show tour has grossed $19.1 million from 200,000 fans filling arenas across the 20 dates according to Billboard Boxscore.
She served as a judge on the UK talent show The X Factor. Compared to longtime host Simon Cowell, Cheryl still received quite a remarkable amount in her tenure as a panelist. According to the Daily Express, she received a staggering £1 million ($1.3 million) for a series.
The singer also had a brief stint in the US counterpart of The X Factor. However, her time on the show ended up short as she was fired by Simon Cowell. “After two cities, I offered [Cheryl] the job, which initially she accepted,” the American Idol judge told Radar. “And then unfortunately when it went public, the negotiations fell apart, so I thought she would be more comfortable doing the U.K. show than the American show. For certain reasons, [she] decided not to [come back to the U.K.] and that’s why it ended up the way it is.”
Cheryl later sued The X Factor‘s production company, Blue Orbit, for $2.3 million for loss of earnings. The pay or play deal was for $1.8 million for the first season, and $2 million for the second, according to legal papers filed in L.A. Superior Court. The dispute was settled out of court, with Blue Orbit paying her an undisclosed sum.
