logo
Liam Payne left behind fortune without making a will , Entertainment News

Liam Payne left behind fortune without making a will , Entertainment News

AsiaOne08-05-2025

Liam Payne died without making a will.
The pop star died in October, aged 31, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and court documents have now revealed that he left behind a fortune worth £28.5 million (S$41.8 million).
However, the net value is £24,279,728, once debts and other expenses are paid.
Court documents show that Cheryl, Liam's former partner and the mother of his eight-year-old son Bear, is an administrator for his estate. Cheryl — who was in a relationship with the singer between 2016 and 2018 — will therefore be legally responsible for Liam's money, property, and possessions.
Richard Bray, a music industry lawyer, has also been named as one of the administrators of his estate.
Although the duo are responsible for managing the money, they cannot distribute it at this moment in time.
Liam — who shot to fame as a member of One Direction, the chart-topping band — fell from the balcony of his room at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Oct 16.
Toxicology tests confirmed that Liam had traces of cocaine, alcohol and a prescription antidepressant in his body.
A postmortem found that Liam died from multiple injuries and internal and external bleeding.
Liam's former bandmates — Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson — released a heartfelt statement after he died, admitting that they were "completely devastated by the news".
The singers — who formed one of the most successful British bands of all time — revealed that they will always cherish the "memories [they] shared" with Liam.
They said in a statement at the time: "We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing.
"In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say.
"But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.
"The memories we shared with him will be treasured for ever.
"For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends and the fans who loved him alongside us.
"We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam."
[[nid:714162]]

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hong Kong looks to win back big-spending tourists
Hong Kong looks to win back big-spending tourists

Straits Times

time5 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Hong Kong looks to win back big-spending tourists

The crowd at Kai Tak stadium before British rock band Coldplay's concert in Hong Kong on April 8. PHOTO: ST FILE HONG KONG – The sisters from south-western China arrived in Hong Kong on a recent holiday, aiming to see as much as they could – in less than 12 hours. Carrying only a small bag each, bank worker Hu Di, 30, and student Hu Ke, 20, sampled beef noodles in the Central business district, took turns posing for sunset photos at a waterfront promenade, then captured the city's illuminated skyline after dark. Buying only medicinal oils and retro comics as souvenirs, they spent less than US$150 (S$193) in the day and went back across the border to stay the night. They are part of a wildly popular trend among Chinese who call themselves 'special forces tourists': independent travellers who get in and out of the city as quickly and cheaply as possible. Chinese travellers make up more than three-quarters of all tourists in the financial hub. But while they were once big spenders in Hong Kong – buying luxury watches, handbags and designer clothes – they now spend less time and money. That is a challenge to the city's efforts to revive a travel economy hurt by years of anti-government protests, pandemic restrictions and concerns in the West over its tightening of freedoms through a national security crackdown. Hong Kong, which once billed itself as Asia's World City, is now seeking to brand itself as the region's events capital, emphasising concerts and trade shows over shopping, to give travellers reasons to return and to spend more. In 2025 , it unveiled a US$4 billion sports park at the site of the city's former airport, Kai Tak. Its centrepiece is a purple-hued stadium with air-conditioning under each of its 50,000 seats. It was almost at capacity during an annual Rugby Sevens tournament in March. Featuring teams from around the world, the tournament drew overseas visitors like Ms Salome Bale, 49, a pharmacy worker from New Zealand. The new stadium left her speechless, she said, adding that the state-of-the-art facilities and the thrumming atmosphere made the games the experience of a lifetime. The next month, kaleidoscopic visual effects were projected on its retractable roof during four sold-out nights of concerts by British rock band Coldplay. More events featured local and regional stars. Some events are backed by a Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund the government started in 2023, pledging up to US$1.9 million in subsidies for approved events. The government is also supporting several high-profile soccer games, including a recent exhibition match involving English team Manchester United. 'You miss us, you come back. And then when you come, you like it again, you become one of our old friends,' said the city's secretary for culture, sports and tourism, Ms Rosanna Law. Tourism spending has been inching up since the pandemic, making up 2.6 per cent of Hong Kong's economic output in 2023 , the most recent data available . But that is still far from the government's target of 5 per cent, which would be a little higher than pre-pandemic levels. Industry experts say the challenge for Hong Kong is distinguishing itself from other Asian cities like Singapore and Bangkok, which have for years offered incentives to attract A-list stars, business conferences and sports tournaments. 'Their strategy is very similar. That is a big problem for Hong Kong,' said Mr Gary Bowerman, who heads a travel and tourism research firm called Check-in Asia. Singapore has invested heavily to host marquee events such as an annual Formula One race and in exclusive deals with undisclosed price tags for huge stars like American artistes Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. While such events help draw tourists who otherwise would not have visited, governments should not become too reliant on them, said Professor Donald Low , a senior lecturer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Institute for Public Policy. 'Even for Singapore, you don't get somebody like Taylor Swift every year,' he said. 'And even if you do, how many days of the year is it?' Hong Kong has also had to weather blows to its international reputation, with the United States and other Western nations warning its travellers of potential risks after Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 that broadly criminalised political dissent. The trade war between the US and China has added to uncertainties. There were fewer visitors to Hong Kong from almost every part of the world in 2024 compared with 2018, according to the latest government data. Mr Stuart Bailey, chair of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association, said many businesspeople from Europe and the US whom he had spoken to had negative impressions about the city. 'It's a good strategy, trying to put Hong Kong on the map to get people to come here,' he said. 'I think it is the right thing because there's a lot of misunderstanding.' Ms Law defended Hong Kong's openness. 'As long as you are law-abiding, as long as you are a genuine, proper tourist, you'll be having a good time in Hong Kong,' she said. The city is courting higher-spending visitors from regions like South-east Asia and the Middle East. Whereas the city's allure was once as a Westernised city on the tip of China, it is now embracing its closer relationship to nearby Chinese cities. Ms Law added that Hong Kong would keep working with Chinese authorities to promote travel to the city as part of regional tours that include cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Drawing more tourists is increasingly important, as many Hong Kong residents now flock to China on weekends and holidays for cheaper entertainment. (Over China's five-day Golden Week holiday in early May, around 1.1 million tourists arrived in Hong Kong, but more than 1.68 million Hong Kong residents left the city.) Given that exodus, 'it's important to know that we are building a relationship with the people who are coming in', said Mr Michael Denmark, owner of the company that operates a giant Ferris wheel on the waterfront. About 85 per cent of the attraction's 2.5 million visitors over the past 12 months came from China, he added. Denmark, testing Chinese appetite for spending on more costly attractions, is co-producing a month-long show by Cirque du Soleil. Ticket prices, from about US$60 to US$250, are significantly higher than the sponsor-subsidised US$2.50 fare to ride the Ferris wheel. He is partnering Chinese social media and travel companies, and has dedicated marketing teams targeting different audiences, including travellers from China. Corporate sponsors 'all have very much their eyes wide open and their arms open to embrace everybody from Greater Bay and beyond in China', he added. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Women arrested for stealing in Changi Airport departure transit area
Women arrested for stealing in Changi Airport departure transit area

Straits Times

time5 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Women arrested for stealing in Changi Airport departure transit area

The theft spree took place at the departure transit area of Changi Airport's Terminal 3. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY SINGAPORE - Two women transiting through Changi Airport were arrested for a series of shop thefts allegedly committed at different stores. In a statement on June 9, the police said they were alerted to a suspected case of theft from a Furla outlet at the departure transit area of Terminal 3 on June 2 at about 2.25pm. A purse was allegedly stolen, and through the use of closed-circuit television camera footage, officers from the Airport Police Division identified and found the two women involved inside an hour. The women , aged 29 and 30, and both Indian nationals, were detained before they could leave the country. The stolen purse was found on the younger woman, and a black haversack and a bottle of perfume - both also allegedly stolen based on preliminary investigations - in the luggage of the older woman. A black haversack and a bottle of perfume, both also allegedly stolen based on preliminary investigations, were found in the luggage of one of the women. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE The three items had a total value of $635. The women are expected to be charged in court on June 10 for theft in dwelling. If convicted, they can be jailed up to seven years, fined, or both. 'The police will continue to work closely with stakeholders and the community to prevent and deter cases of shop theft,' the statement said, adding that the police take a serious view of shop thefts. The most recent case of reported shop theft in Changi Airport was in May, when a British man was arrested for his suspected involvement in stealing more than $2,900 worth of items. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

What we know about The Paper, the upcoming spin-off of American sitcom The Office
What we know about The Paper, the upcoming spin-off of American sitcom The Office

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Straits Times

What we know about The Paper, the upcoming spin-off of American sitcom The Office

What we know about The Paper, the upcoming spin-off of American sitcom The Office NEW YORK – It has been 20 years since the American version of The Office (2005 to 2013) debuted on NBC, where it ran for nine acclaimed seasons and endured as a pop culture juggernaut well after its finale. It lives on in countless memes and catchphrases, and the network says it remains one of its most-streamed shows. So, it should surprise no one that the sitcom, as delightfully cringey as it is lovable, is finally getting a spin-off – The Paper (2025). NBCUniversal revealed at its upfront presentation in May that The Paper would debut on its streaming platform Peacock in September. The sitcom is being created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman. Daniels was behind the American adaptation of The Office, while Koman created Comedy Central's Nathan For You (2013), alongside its star Nathan Fielder, a king of deadpan comedy. Daniels and Koman are executive producers of The Paper, as are Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the duo behind the original British version of The Office (2001 to 2003). Fans first caught wind of the potential spin-off in May 2024, when it was announced that Peacock had an untitled comedy-mockumentary series in the works. Production of The Paper began last summer. Like The Office, The Paper is a mockumentary sitcom about an industry in trouble – this time, the newspaper business, as opposed to the paper business of the original. It is also set in the same universe as the original. The same fictional documentary crew that followed the employees of Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is now following those who work at The Truth Teller, a fictional newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, whose publisher is trying to revive it with the help of volunteer reporters. Oscar Nunez is returning as Oscar Martinez, who will now work in accounting at The Truth Teller. 'I told Mr Greg Daniels that if Oscar came back, he would probably be living in a more bustling, cosmopolitan city,' Nunez said at the May presentation. 'Greg heard me, and he moved Oscar to Toledo, Ohio, which has three times the population of Scranton. So, it was nice to be heard.' So far, Nunez is the only Office alum who is confirmed for the new series, but John Krasinski, who played Jim Halpert, told Entertainment Tonight that he would make a cameo if Daniels asked him. 'I will do anything for that guy,' Krasinski said. 'He calls, I'll show up.' The new series will be led by actors Domhnall Gleeson, most famous for his role in Alex Garland's sci-fi film Ex Machina (2014) , and Sabrina Impacciatore, most famous for her role as the no-nonsense hotel manager during Season 2 of HBO's The White Lotus (2022). Impacciatore will play the managing editor of The Truth Teller, and Gleeson will play a new employee. The Paper will also star Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young and Tim Key. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store