American supermodel’s son Presley Gerber dies at 27

Presley Gerber, the son of American supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, has died at the age of 27.

Gerber died on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at a rehabilitation facility, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

His death was confirmed by Allie Jenkins, a representative for Crawford and Rande Gerber.

“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” Jenkins said in an email, according to the Associated Press on Monday, September 21.

The official cause of death had not been released, with an autopsy still pending.

But who was Presley Gerber, the name that has drawn widespread attention following his death?

He was Cindy Crawford’s only son

Presley Walker Gerber was born on July 2, 1999, in Beverly Hills, California.

He was the only son of Crawford, one of the most recognisable models of the 1990s, and Rande Gerber, a businessman and hospitality entrepreneur.

He was the elder brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber.

Crawford and Rande Gerber married in 1998 and raised their two children in California.

He entered modelling as a teenager

Presley followed his mother into fashion and began modelling professionally while still a teenager.

According to PEOPLE, he was signed by IMG Models at 15.

He made his runway debut for Moschino at the label’s Los Angeles show in June 2016, when he was 16.

Speaking to Vogue ahead of the June 10, 2016 show, Gerber said he had initially been surprised by how much he enjoyed modelling.

“Honestly, I have enjoyed [the fashion industry] a lot more than expected,” he told Vogue.

He added that he had not previously felt he had enough experience in fashion but believed he was then ready.

Gerber subsequently worked with fashion brands including Calvin Klein, Celine, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Bottega Veneta and Tommy Hilfiger.

He also appeared alongside his younger sister as the two built careers in fashion.

What did Presley Gerber say about modelling?

In a 2016 interview with W magazine, Gerber described the nerves that came with his early runway appearances.

His biggest concern was simple: “Don’t fall.”

“That’s all. I was like, ‘Please don’t trip, just make it to the end,’” he told the magazine.

By 2018, however, he had become more comfortable with the profession.

Speaking to PEOPLE that year, Gerber said working alongside Kaia made modelling “a lot less lonely.”

Why did he become known for his openness about mental health?

In later years, Gerber became increasingly public about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse.

He discussed those experiences on the Studio 22 podcast in 2023.

“[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,” he said.

He explained that he wanted to use his experiences to help other people.

“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.”

Gerber also spoke about the mistakes he had made and what he hoped others could learn from them.

“What I hope I can do is have made the mistakes for some other people, so they don’t have to make the same mistakes that I made,” he said.

He subsequently began sharing content under the title “Mental Health Mondays”, using social media to discuss mental health and recovery.

What was the “misunderstood” tattoo about?

Gerber attracted considerable attention in February 2020 after getting the word “misunderstood” tattooed on his right cheek.

He defended the decision during an Instagram Live session.

“You don’t know how I feel, you’re not in my head,” he said.

Explaining the meaning of the tattoo, he added: “I don’t feel very understood, I guess.”

The tattoo later appeared to have been removed.

He also faced a DUI case

Gerber was arrested in January 2019 for driving under the influence.

According to TMZ, he was later sentenced to three years of probation, ordered to complete a DUI programme and required to perform two days of community service.

The arrest was one of the more widely reported controversies surrounding him during his late teens.

His sister recently spoke about his struggles

Gerber’s struggles had also become a subject of discussion within his family.

In an interview published by Vogue on August 11, 2026, Kaia Gerber described her brother’s battle with drug addiction as a “decade-long struggle.”

She explained that the experience had affected how she saw her own place within the family.

“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” Kaia said.

She also spoke about Presley’s decision to be open about his experiences, saying their parents had traditionally been very private.

“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. And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.”

His final years were marked by openness

In December 2025, Gerber shared an Instagram video discussing his struggles and his efforts to seek help.

According to PEOPLE, he spoke about medication he had been using to manage panic attacks and explained why he wanted to discuss his experiences publicly.

“Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of loss in many different forms recently, so that is not an excuse, but it’s the reason why I am where I’m at now,” he said.

He said he hoped his openness would make people feel less alone.

“I say all of this, a lot of people will at least know that there’s someone else going through it,” he said.

His death

Gerber died on September 20, 2026, at 27.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s records identified a rehabilitation facility as the location of his death, while the cause remained pending an autopsy.

The family, through its representative, has asked for privacy.

Gerber is survived by his parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and his sister, Kaia Gerber.