Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old model and only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at a rehabilitation facility in Los Angeles.
The news was first reported by TMZ, and a representative for the family confirmed his passing to multiple outlets, stating that the family is requesting privacy during what they described as a very difficult and painful time. As of this writing, the Presley Gerber cause of death has not been officially released, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has confirmed that an autopsy has not yet been completed.
Presley leaves behind his parents and his younger sister, Kaia Gerber, a 25-year-old model and actress. The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the entertainment and fashion worlds, where the Gerber-Crawford family has remained one of the most recognizable names for decades.
What the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner Has Confirmed
According to online records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Presley Gerber died on Sunday at a rehabilitation facility. No specific cause of death was listed in those records, and no additional details about the circumstances were made available. An autopsy has not yet been performed, which means that the official cause of death remains pending.
This is standard practice in cases where deaths occur under circumstances that require further medical investigation. Until the medical examiner releases its findings, any speculation about the Presley Gerber cause of death would be premature and unconfirmed.
The family’s representative has not provided additional medical details and has emphasized their need for privacy.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Presley died Sunday at a rehab facility. An official cause of death is still pending, as is an autopsy.https://t.co/PVSVSy7jze
— WEAR ABC 3 (@weartv) September 21, 2026
Presley Gerber’s Early Life and Famous Family
Presley Walker Gerber was born on July 2, 1999, in Beverly Hills, California. He was the elder child of two highly prominent figures in entertainment and business.
His mother, Cindy Crawford, is one of the most celebrated supermodels in history, known for her decades-long career that includes magazine covers, campaigns for major fashion brands, and iconic commercial appearances. His father, Rande Gerber, is a successful entrepreneur and former model who co-founded the Casamigos tequila brand alongside actor George Clooney and real estate developer Mike Meldman. Casamigos was sold to Diageo in 2017 in a deal worth up to $1 billion.
Presley’s younger sister, Kaia Gerber (born September 3, 2001), followed their mother into modeling and has since built a successful career as both a model and an actress, with acting roles in films such as “Bottoms” (2023) and “Saturday Night” (2024), and a lead role in the FX series “The Shards.”
Presley graduated from Malibu High School in 2017. Growing up in one of Hollywood’s most visible families placed him in the public eye from a young age.
A Modeling Career Built on High-Profile Runway Shows and Campaigns
Presley Gerber began his modeling career at the age of 15 after being signed by IMG Models. He made his runway debut at just 16, walking for Moschino during the brand’s Resort 2017 show in Los Angeles.
That debut opened the door to a series of prestigious opportunities. Over the following years, Presley walked the runway for some of the biggest names in fashion, including:
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Burberry
- Bottega Veneta
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Ralph Lauren
- Balmain
- Saint Laurent
He also appeared in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, Celine, Omega watches, Hugo Boss, and Pepsi. His editorial work was published in GQ Style, The New York Times Style Magazine, Vogue, Another Man, Vogue Hommes, and ODDA. He worked with acclaimed photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Mario Testino, Collier Schorr, and Daniel Jackson.
One of his most memorable public moments came in 2018, when he appeared alongside his mother in a Pepsi Super Bowl commercial that paid tribute to Cindy Crawford’s famous 1992 Pepsi ad.
That same year, Models.com named him the Readers’ Choice winner for Breakout Star (Men) in their 2017 Model of the Year Awards.
In February 2019, DNA Model Management officially signed Presley, adding him to a roster that already included his sister Kaia.
Beyond modeling, Presley also pursued interests in business and investment. A 2022 interview with Air Mail described modeling as one part of his broader professional ambitions. His most recent modeling work included a Vuori Clothing campaign, shared on Instagram on August 5, 2026, which became his final public social media post.
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Presley Gerber’s Documented Struggles With Addiction and Mental Health
While Presley Gerber built a career in front of the camera, he was simultaneously confronting serious personal battles that he eventually chose to share publicly.
2019 DUI Arrest: In January 2019, Presley was arrested for driving under the influence in Beverly Hills. He was later sentenced to three years of probation, ordered to complete a DUI program, and assigned two days of community service.
2020 “MISUNDERSTOOD” Face Tattoo: In February 2020, Presley made headlines when he got the word “MISUNDERSTOOD” tattooed below his left eye by celebrity tattoo artist JonBoy. The tattoo drew immediate and widespread backlash on social media. In response, Presley said publicly that he did not feel understood and that the tattoo reflected how he had felt for most of his life. A source told Us Weekly at the time that Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber were “very worried” about their son. By 2021, the tattoo appeared to have been removed.
2023 Studio 22 Podcast: Presley appeared on the Studio 22 podcast, where he spoke openly about his battles with depression and mental health. He expressed a desire to use his platform to help others who were going through similar challenges and described mental health management as a “24/7 job.”
2024 Fentanyl Overdose Disclosure: Presley revealed that he had battled a severe opiate addiction over multiple years. He disclosed that he had survived a near-fatal fentanyl overdose that left him in a coma for several days. Following that experience, he entered rehabilitation and underwent treatment with ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychedelic derived from a Central West African shrub that has shown promise in treating addiction.
December 2025 Medication Video: Presley posted a seven-minute video to Instagram from a sauna, providing a candid breakdown of his medications and treatment. He shared that he was taking buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder), as well as Xanax and Valium for panic attacks. Presley said he had visited more than 15 different psychiatrists, many of whom he felt had heavily medicated him without offering a clear path to recovery. He also confirmed that he had reached five months of sobriety from alcohol, with his last drink in July 2025. His mother, Cindy Crawford, responded in the comments, writing: “We love you and you are not alone.”
Mental Health Mondays Initiative: Presley launched an Instagram series called “Mental Health Mondays,” where he spoke openly about his recovery journey. He also worked with charitable organizations, including A Sense of Home, a Los Angeles-based charity supporting youth aging out of the foster care system.
Presley’s Final Instagram Posts and His Ibogaine Treatment Journey
One of the most significant posts Presley shared before his death was a video from March 2026 documenting his experience before undergoing what he described as an “ibogaine flood dose.”
In the caption, he wrote that it was a quiet moment before everything changed and that he was deeply frightened. He described the challenge of surrendering control and trusting that something greater was guiding the process. Presley wrote that he had faced what he had been avoiding and that he was slowly finding his way back to himself.
He added that he was hoping it would be the last time he would need to return to rehab and expressed gratitude toward the treatment team who supported him.
The post received heartfelt responses from his family. Cindy Crawford wrote that he was a warrior who had walked through fire. Kaia Gerber commented that she was incredibly proud of her brother. Rande Gerber praised his son’s courage and said that watching him find his way back was everything.
Presley’s final public appearance took place in May 2026, when the family attended the RE/DONE x Kaia Gerber “Short/Cuts” launch event in Los Angeles.
Kaia Gerber’s Vogue Interview Just Weeks Before Presley’s Death
In the September 2026 issue of Vogue, published just weeks before Presley’s death, Kaia Gerber offered an emotional reflection on what the publication described as her brother’s decade-long battle with addiction.
Kaia said that when something like that happens in a family, it levels everyone. She described how she began to see herself as “the easy one” and avoided asking for help because it felt like too much for two children to both be in need.
She also spoke admiringly about Presley’s willingness to be open about his life, noting that while their parents had always been very private, Presley chose a different approach by being publicly honest about his struggles.
Tributes Pour In From the Fashion and Entertainment World
News of Presley’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from public figures who knew him personally.
Paris Hilton shared an emotional tribute on her Instagram Stories, calling Presley a beautiful soul and describing him as someone who was sweet, sensitive, kind, and genuine. She wrote that she was completely heartbroken and that she could not believe the news was real. She extended her condolences to the entire family.
Fashion photographer Collier Schorr, who had worked with both Presley and Kaia, posted on Instagram remembering Presley as a protective brother who accompanied Kaia to an early Teen Vogue shoot. She recalled photographing him for a Hugo Boss campaign and noted that she could sense him struggling under public scrutiny, but that he always cared deeply and was searching for his place. She acknowledged how hard his family had worked to support him.
Fans have also turned to the comments section of Presley’s final Instagram post to leave messages of condolence and remembrance for his family.
Understanding Ibogaine Treatment for Addiction
Presley Gerber’s public discussion of ibogaine treatment brought attention to a therapy that remains relatively unknown to many.
Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound that occurs naturally in the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub, which is native to Central West Africa. Research from institutions including Stanford Medicine has identified ibogaine as having potential in treating opioid addiction by interrupting withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings.
However, ibogaine is not approved for medical use in the United States. It remains classified as a Schedule I substance. Some clinics in other countries, including Mexico and parts of Europe, offer supervised ibogaine treatments. Australia has permitted its use under specific medical circumstances.
The treatment carries risks, including cardiovascular complications, and requires careful medical supervision. Presley’s willingness to discuss his ibogaine experience publicly contributed to broader public awareness of this unconventional approach to treating addiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the confirmed cause of death for Presley Gerber?
As of September 21, 2026, the Presley Gerber cause of death has not been officially disclosed. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that an autopsy has not yet been completed, and no further details about the circumstances of his death have been released.
Where did Presley Gerber die?
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office, Presley Gerber died at a rehabilitation facility in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Who are Presley Gerber’s parents?
Presley was the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber. His father co-founded the Casamigos tequila brand with George Clooney, which was sold for up to $1 billion in 2017.
Did Presley Gerber have siblings?
Yes. Presley’s younger sister is Kaia Gerber, born September 3, 2001. Kaia is a successful model and actress who has appeared in major fashion campaigns and television series.
What modeling agencies represented Presley Gerber?
Presley was initially signed by IMG Models at the age of 15. In 2019, he was signed by DNA Model Management, which also represents his sister Kaia.
Did Presley Gerber have a face tattoo?
In February 2020, Presley got the word “MISUNDERSTOOD” tattooed beneath his left eye by tattoo artist JonBoy. The tattoo received significant public backlash. By 2021, it appeared to have been removed.
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Last Updated on September 21, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
