One Direction, five fortunes

Each member of boy band is now worth at least £50m

AS the baby-faced schoolboys nervously shuffled around the X Factor stage, warbling slightly off-key, few could have predicted they would go on to become global superstars.

But seven years on, the five members of One Direction – all aged 25 or under – are each worth at least £50 million. Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik have sold ten shares in their company, 1D Media, for £70,131,909 – £14,026,381 each – according to records filed with Companies House.

A year after the remaining four announced their ‘semi-retirement’ – Malik, 24, quit in March 2015 – all five are still rolling in royalties from two other companies, Rollcall Touring and PPM.

In addition, each has signed a lucrative solo record deal. Styles, 23, and Tomlinson, 25, are also pursuing successful ventures in film and television.

Last night a source who worked closely with One Direction said: ‘Almost from the off the boys were extremely canny. They received sound financial advice straight away, and none of them have been reckless with their earnings.

‘In ten years’ time, they could easily be worth £100million each.’

One Direction were put together on Simon Cowell’s ITV show in 2010. Although they came third – losing to Matt Cardle – they were immediately signed by Cowell’s Syco label and established themselves as teen favourites.

They won six Brit awards and sold more than 20million records worldwide, conquering the notoriously tough US market and becoming pin-ups around the globe.

The group earned £105million during 2015, making them the wealthiest boy band in UK history. Last year all five made the Sunday Times under-30 rich list.

They have enjoyed the trappings of fame – holidays, clothes, cars – but have also invested in property. Last night their representatives declined to comment.