Presley Gerber, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, has died at the age of 27. He passed away on Sunday, September 20, at a rehabilitation facility in Los Angeles, according to records filed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. His cause of death has not been released, and an autopsy is pending.
A representative for the family confirmed the news and asked for privacy. “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” the spokesperson said.
A Model Who Followed in His Mother’s Footsteps
Born in 1999, Presley was the older brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber. He began his modeling career as a teenager, signing with IMG Models at just 15. He made his runway debut for Italian label Moschino at 16 and went on to model for major brands including Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, and Calvin Klein. He also appeared in campaigns alongside his sister, with whom he shared a close bond and matching tattoos.
A Public Battle With Mental Health and Addiction
In recent years, Presley became remarkably open about his struggles with mental health, anxiety, depression, and substance use. He launched a series called “Mental Health Mondays” on social media, sharing his journey and progress with followers. He also documented his battle with sedative use, once explaining that it fluctuated “depending on what’s going on in my life.”
“Unfortunately I’ve had a lot of loss, in many different forms recently,” he said in a video last December. “So that is not an excuse, but it’s a reason or a part of where I am where I’m at now.”
In 2023, he told the Studio 22 podcast: “Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do.”
He also spoke about his frustration while trying different treatments, saying he had seen around 15 psychiatrists and felt he needed clearer guidance rather than being given several medication options. Earlier this year, he undertook psychoactive drug therapy in Mexico.
His Sister’s Words
In the September 2026 issue of American Vogue, Kaia Gerber spoke candidly about how her brother’s struggles affected the family. She said she often saw herself as “the easy one” and avoided asking her parents for help because she didn’t want to add to their concerns.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” Kaia said. “I think that’s also why I started to self-identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help.”
She also praised Presley for being open about his experiences at a time when their family had traditionally kept personal matters private. “My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything — and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone,'” she said. “There’s only so much you can hide from the world.”
His Last Public Appearance
Presley’s last public appearance was a family celebration honoring his sister Kaia’s collaboration with denim brand Re/Done. The 27-year-old joined Kaia, Cindy Crawford, and Rande Gerber at the collection launch in May 2026, just months before his death. Photographs from the event showed Presley smiling alongside his family, wearing a red plaid button-down shirt over a black T-shirt and jeans.
A Voice for Mental Health
Presley Gerber spent much of his adult life in the public eye, but in recent years, he also became open about a deeply personal part of his life. Through his social media posts and “Mental Health Mondays” videos, he spoke about anxiety, depression, and addiction, and his attempts to find treatment that worked for him.
“The truth will set you free (hopefully),” he once wrote.
He also said: “[Mental health] is an issue. It is such a big part of my life. It’s a 24/7 job, and there’s so much to it. That’s really what I want to do: help people, whether you’re depressed, you’re struggling with something that is having a negative effect on your body. I mean, it could be anything, and there’s no judgment.”
His family has requested privacy as they grieve. The cause of his death remains undetermined, with an autopsy pending. 💔
