Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber are mourning the death of their only son, Presley Gerber, who died at the age of 27 after building his own career in fashion while publicly confronting years of mental health and addiction struggles.
The model died on Sunday, September 20, at a rehabilitation facility, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Presley was the older brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber and the eldest child of Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber.
Family Confirms Presley Gerber’s Death at 27
A representative for Crawford, Rande and Kaia confirmed Presley’s death as news of the tragedy emerged.
The family asked to be left alone while dealing with the loss.
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” their representative said.
No extensive public statement about the circumstances surrounding his death had been released.
Cause of Death Has Not Been Announced
Records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner showed that Presley died at a rehabilitation facility on September 20.
An autopsy had not been completed in the initial reports, and officials had not publicly determined or disclosed a cause of death.
His death at a rehabilitation facility does not, by itself, establish how he died.
Authorities are expected to determine the cause and manner of death through the medical examiner’s investigation.
Presley Followed His Mother Into Fashion
Born into one of America’s best-known modelling families, Presley began pursuing his own career in fashion while still a teenager.
He signed with IMG Models at 15 and went on to work with several internationally recognised fashion houses.
His runway career included appearances for Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger and other major labels.
He made his runway debut at a Moschino show in Los Angeles in 2016.
Calvin Klein and Other Major Brands Featured the Young Model
Presley’s work extended beyond runway appearances.
He participated in advertising campaigns for brands including Calvin Klein and Celine, establishing a professional identity in the same industry that had made his mother internationally famous.
In 2018, he also appeared alongside Crawford in a Pepsi commercial connected with Super Bowl LII.
His younger sister, Kaia, similarly became a prominent model and actress.
Mental Health Became an Increasingly Public Part of His Life
Away from fashion, Presley became increasingly candid about difficulties involving his mental health and substance use.
Rather than keeping those experiences completely private, he used social media and interviews to discuss treatment, recovery, depression and the emotional challenges he faced.
Reuters reported that Presley launched a social media series called “Mental Health Mondays” in 2025, saying he wanted to encourage conversations about subjects people often conceal.
His openness represented a notable shift for a family that had traditionally maintained considerable privacy around personal matters.
Kaia Gerber Discussed Her Brother’s Addiction Struggles
Kaia addressed her brother’s difficulties during an August 2026 interview with Vogue.
The magazine described Presley as having experienced a years-long struggle with drug addiction.
Kaia explained that dealing with a serious problem affecting one family member inevitably affected everyone around them.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she said.
She also explained that the situation influenced how she approached her own problems, saying she had developed a tendency to see herself as the “easy one” and avoid asking for help when her brother was already struggling.
Kaia Praised Presley for Refusing to Hide His Difficulties
Kaia also spoke positively about her brother’s willingness to discuss deeply personal issues publicly.
She contrasted Presley’s openness with the privacy their parents had maintained for much of the family’s life.
Kaia described her brother as an “absolute teacher” who was prepared to show his humanity publicly rather than conceal what he was experiencing.
She argued that attempting to hide someone’s struggles could make that person feel as though relatives were ashamed of them.
Presley Used Social Media to Discuss Recovery
Presley himself repeatedly addressed his condition with followers.
In a since-deleted Instagram video posted in December 2025, he discussed panic attacks, medications, recovery and personal losses.
He explained that he hoped speaking publicly could reach people experiencing similar difficulties.
Part of his motivation, he said, was to help others realise they were not alone while also potentially connecting with people who might be able to help him.
He Wanted His Experiences to Help Other People
Presley had expressed a similar ambition years earlier.
During a podcast appearance in 2023, he discussed depression and other mental health difficulties and said helping even one person escape the kind of place he had experienced would make speaking publicly worthwhile.
That approach became increasingly visible during the final years of his life.
Rather than presenting recovery as a simple process, Presley publicly documented some of its difficulties and his continuing attempts to improve his health.
Treatment Journey Continued Months Before His Death
Presley was still discussing addiction treatment and recovery in 2026.
In one of his later social media posts, he described undergoing treatment and confronting issues he had previously tried to escape.
Reporting following his death has highlighted those posts as evidence of how openly he had begun documenting his recovery journey.
His public discussions attracted supportive messages from members of his family, including Crawford and Kaia.
Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber Face Loss of Their Only Son
Presley’s death leaves Crawford and Rande without their only son and Kaia without her older brother.
Although his famous family introduced him to the fashion world at an early age, Presley’s later public identity increasingly included his willingness to speak about addiction, depression and recovery.
His death has consequently prompted renewed attention to comments he made about those struggles during the final years of his life.
For now, however, the exact circumstances of his death remain undetermined publicly.
With the medical examiner’s investigation still pending in initial reports, his family’s only immediate request has been for privacy as they mourn the 27-year-old model.
