Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, has died aged 27.
The model, who was the older brother of actress and model Kaia Gerber, died on Sunday, September 20, at a rehabilitation facility, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records obtained by Us Weekly.
A family representative told TMZ: “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.” A cause of death had not been publicly confirmed at the time of reporting.
© WWD via Getty ImagesPresley Gerber’s modelling career
Presley followed his mother into fashion, beginning his modelling career at 15. His work included appearances for Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein.
Born in Beverly Hills in 1999, he was Cindy and Rande’s first child. The couple welcomed daughter Kaia two years later. In recent years, Presley also used his platform to discuss mental health, sharing his experiences through interviews and an Instagram series called “Mental Health Mondays”.
© WWD via Getty ImagesWhat Kaia Gerber said about her brother
Kaia had spoken about her brother’s openness in an interview published by Vogue in August. She described how his willingness to discuss difficult experiences had challenged the family’s instinct to keep their personal lives private. Calling Presley an “absolute teacher”, she explained that his honesty had encouraged a different approach.
“There’s only so much you can hide from the world,” she said. Her comments reflected the pride she felt in her brother for sharing experiences that others might have struggled to put into words.
© WireImagePresley Gerber’s mental health struggles
Presley previously explained that he wanted to use what he had learned from his own difficulties to support other people. During a 2023 appearance on the Studio 22 podcast, he discussed his experiences with depression and the time he had spent working with therapists to better understand himself.
He also spoke about finding an outlet through music and considering projects that would make conversations about mental health more accessible. His ideas included using his existing platforms or developing a business centred on the subject.
“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 said.
The ambition, he explained, was to create a space where people could speak about their experiences without feeling judged. Reflecting on what he had taken from his own life, he said: “I’ve seen a lot of stuff and I’ve learned a lot of things.”
“So you feel like you’re not alone, because that is how I feel most of the time, and I have a feeling that if I say all of this, a lot of people will at least know that there’s someone else going through it,” he said. “And the second thing is, hopefully, I find some people out here… willing to help or know someone that can help.”
In a since deleted Instagram post he also spoke about taking antidepressants and his panic attacks: ‘Benzos have been fluctuating up and down depending on what’s been going on in my life,” he said.
“Doctors say a lot of different things so it’s kind of scary. But hopefully between my research and their research and the world and God, we can finally figure this out,” he added.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
