Presley Gerber Dies at 27 After Public Recovery Journey
The model had spoken publicly about addiction, mental health, and treatment
Model Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died Sunday at a Los Angeles-area rehabilitation facility. He was 27. Born in Los Angeles in July 1999, Gerber grew up in Malibu in a family deeply embedded in fashion and entertainment.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner confirmed Gerber’s death on Sunday. Allie Jenkins, a spokesperson for Crawford and Gerber, later confirmed the news to the Associated Press and said the family is requesting privacy during “this very difficult and painful time.”
Gerber entered the fashion industry at 16, making his runway debut in June 2016 at the Moschino Resort show in Los Angeles. He later modeled for Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Balmain, and Tommy Hilfiger.
His mother, Cindy Crawford, rose to fame in the late 1980s as one of the world’s premier supermodels. She hosted MTV’s *House of Style* and appeared on hundreds of magazine covers worldwide. Crawford and Gerber married in May 1998.
In 2018, at age 18, Presley Gerber was selected as the face of Calvin Klein Jeans’ global advertising campaign alongside his younger sister, model and actress Kaia Gerber. The siblings also became brand ambassadors for luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega, frequently appearing together in international promotional campaigns and brand events.
His father, Rande Gerber, is a former model turned nightlife entrepreneur. In 2013, he co-founded Casamigos Tequila with actor George Clooney and real estate developer Mike Meldman. Beverage conglomerate Diageo acquired the spirits company in 2017 in a deal valued at up to $1 billion.
Gerber’s passing followed years of public openness about his battles with substance abuse and mental health. In an August 11 interview with *Vogue*, Kaia Gerber discussed her brother’s decision to address his addiction publicly and praised his willingness to share his recovery journey, despite the family’s traditional preference for privacy.
“My parents … were very, very private,” Kaia Gerber said in the interview. “Now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who said, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone.’”
She was referring to a since-deleted video posted to Instagram in December. In it, Presley Gerber spoke directly to his social media followers about his history of drug dependency, his mental health journey, and his efforts in treatment.
His personal struggles had also drawn attention in early 2020, when he acquired a facial tattoo reading “MISUNDERSTOOD” under his right eye. He publicly defended the decision at the time and later underwent removal procedures.
The struggles also intersected with the legal system. In January 2019, law enforcement in Beverly Hills, California, arrested Gerber after pulling him over for speeding. He was subsequently charged with driving under the influence and sentenced to three years of probation, community service, and mandatory completion of a state-approved DUI education program.
