Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died September 20 at a rehabilitation facility, according to TMZ, citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. His cause of death has not been released, and an autopsy is pending. Presley had spoken publicly in recent years about his long struggles with substance use and mental health. The family has asked for privacy.
Presley Gerber spent the last few years of his life doing something his family had rarely done in public: talking openly about pain. That honesty is part of what makes his death, at just 27, land as hard as it does.
What’s Known So Far
Presley died September 20 at a rehabilitation facility, according to TMZ’s reporting, which cites the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. No cause of death has been released, and an autopsy remains pending.
A representative for Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber, and their daughter Kaia Gerber confirmed Presley’s death to TMZ.
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” the representative said.
A Public Fight With Addiction
Presley followed his mother into modeling, signing with IMG Models at just 15. His struggles became public in January 2019, when he was arrested for DUI after Beverly Hills police stopped him for speeding. He later pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to three years of probation, community service, and a court-ordered DUI program, completing court-mandated drug testing the following year.
In 2024, Presley spoke publicly for the first time about a severe, years-long addiction to opioids, revealing he had survived a near-fatal fentanyl overdose that left him in a coma for several days. He later entered a rehabilitation program that included treatment with the psychedelic drug ibogaine.
That same period, he opened up about his dependence on prescription medications, saying he had seen more than 15 psychiatrists and alleging he had been heavily medicated without ever being given a structured path toward recovery. Around the same time, he shared that he had reached five months of sobriety from alcohol.
Turning Pain Into a Public Platform
Rather than retreat from public view, Presley began using his platform to talk directly about mental health and recovery, launching a recurring Instagram series called “Mental Health Mondays.” In a since-deleted 2025 post, he wrote that he wanted to share his experience publicly so others going through similar struggles would feel less alone.
By July 2025, he was posting about efforts to rebuild healthier daily habits, including reconnecting with sports and fitness. One of his final posts, in March 2026, reportedly documented his experience with ibogaine treatment, expressing hope that it would help move his recovery forward.
A Family Reckoning With Openness
Presley’s struggles didn’t stay private within his family, either. Just last month, his sister Kaia Gerber spoke about his decade-long battle with addiction in a September 2026 Vogue interview, describing her pride in his decision to be open about what he was going through rather than hide it.
She described Presley as someone who challenged the family’s traditionally private approach to personal difficulties — someone willing to say the hard thing out loud, even when concealment might have felt easier.
Presley was the only son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and the older brother of model and actor Kaia Gerber.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, help is available. In the U.S., the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is reachable by call or text, 24/7. In India: AASRA (9820466726, 24/7) and Vandrevala Foundation (1860-266-2345, 24/7) both offer confidential support.
