Presley Gerber

Presley Gerber
Gerber in 2026
Born
Presley Walker Gerber

(1999-07-02)July 2, 1999
Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedSeptember 20, 2026(2026-09-20) (aged 27)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
EducationMalibu High School
Years active2015–2026
Height6 ft (1.83 m)
Parents
RelativesKaia Gerber (sister)

Presley Walker Gerber (July 2, 1999 – September 20, 2026) was an American model. He was the elder child of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber and the brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber.

He began modeling as a teenager and later appeared in runway shows and advertising campaigns for several major fashion brands. He also spoke publicly about his experiences with mental health and addiction.

Early life and education

Presley Walker Gerber was born in a home birth on July 2, 1999, in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., the first child and only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber. He had one sibling, a younger sister, Kaia. Gerber graduated from Malibu High School in 2017.

His parents said the name Presley came from a dinner with record producer David Foster, who was then married to Linda Thompson, formerly Elvis Presley's girlfriend. They recalled Foster asking, "Can you imagine being me, having to follow Presley?" and that the name stuck.

Career

Gerber began modeling at age 15, appearing alongside his sister and model Garrett Taber in a CR Fashion Book editorial shot in May 2015. He subsequently signed with IMG Models in July 2015, and made his runway debut for Moschino in June 2016, at age 16. He walked for Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, and appeared in a Super Bowl advertisement for Pepsi with his mother in 2018. He also worked on campaigns for Calvin Klein, Celine and Omega.

In 2017, he won the Reader's Choice Breakout Star men's category in Models.com's Model of the Year awards. He had previously been nominated for the Celebrity as Model men's category in 2016, and was subsequently nominated for the Model of the Year men's category in 2018.

In 2017, Gerber had a role in the music video for Madison Beer's song "Dead". In 2024, he appeared as himself in the eighth episode of the reality‑sports show The Wager, where Gerber and his father were challenged by Jason Kennedy and Wes Burrows.

Personal life and death

In January 2019, Gerber was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI). He received three years' probation and was required to complete a DUI program and two days of community service.

In 2020, he tattooed his face with the word "misunderstood" under his eye, which led to viral controversy. Gerber compared the negative comments to transphobia in a later post. According to People, he had removed it by August 2021.

In 2023, Gerber discussed his experiences with mental health on the Studio 22 podcast. He said he had dealt with depression and related issues, and added that "whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place ... that's all I need to do." On the podcast, he also mentioned considering a mental health‑focused clothing line. The same year, Gerber began an Instagram series called "Mental Health Mondays", where he discussed his experiences with depression and addiction. On the series, he said he first saw a psychiatrist at around 13 and began taking Xanax at 16, which initially helped before he started to worry about its long‑term effects. He said he knew what dependence and addiction were but did not realise he was moving in that direction. He described being treated with several medications over the years, including Prozac at 14 for anxiety and panic attacks. Gerber said he first went to rehab in his late teens, where he was given trazodone, an antidepressant that he said left him feeling numb. He was prescribed other drugs during multiple rehab stays, the first at 18 or 19, and mentioned using ketamine and kratom to manage withdrawal symptoms. He also recalled taking Valium, Adderall and buprenorphine before becoming dissatisfied with medication and traditional rehab programs.

In March 2026, he posted a video showing him preparing for a "pre‑ibogaine flood dose" in Cancun, Mexico. In June 2026, Gerber took part in a mental-health event in Malibu. He spoke about his experiences with mental health, including a turning point at age 23 and the pressures of growing up in the public eye, and said he felt more free after being open about what he had gone through.

Gerber died at Resolutions Living, a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California, one day after he arrived, on September 20, 2026, at the age of 27.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Newcomb, Alyssa (March 30, 2020). "Cindy Crawford shares her experience having two home births". Today. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Lammers, Tim (September 20, 2026). "Presley Gerber, Son Of Cindy Crawford And Rande Gerber, Dies At 27". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Presley has left the building". Chicago Tribune. July 8, 1999. p. 98. Retrieved September 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. ↑ Aiello, McKenna (June 9, 2017). "Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber Celebrate Son Presley Gerber's High School Graduation". E! News. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  5. ↑ Widdicombe, Ben (January 26, 2018). "When Beefcake Ages Very Nicely". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2026. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Cracknell, Eliza (July 14, 2015). "Cindy Crawford's son now a model too". Nine.com.au. Retrieved November 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ Edel, Victoria (September 20, 2026). "Presley Gerber, Only Son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, Dies at 27". People. Archived from the original on September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  8. ↑ "(untitled brief)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. May 1, 2016. p. M62. Retrieved September 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  9. ↑ Matera, Avery (June 13, 2016). "Cindy Crawford's 16-Year-Old Son Just Walked the Runway for the First Time Ever". Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 9, 2026.
  10. ↑ Okwodu, Janelle (June 10, 2016). "Presley Gerber—Cindy Crawford's Son—Makes His Runway Debut at Moschino's L.A. Show". Vogue. Retrieved November 9, 2026.
  11. ↑ Talarico, Brittany (January 11, 2018). "Cindy Crawford Is Reuniting with Pepsi for New Super Bowl Commercial". Time. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Crawford recreates iconic ad, with her son". The Hamilton Spectator. January 12, 2018. p. S2. Retrieved September 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  13. ↑ Yasmin, Shahana (September 21, 2026). "Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, dies at 27". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Bella Hadid, Adwoa Aboah hailed as Models.com models of the year 2017". The Jakarta Post. December 25, 2017. Archived from the original on September 22, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Models.com 2017 Industry Awards". Models.com. December 21, 2017. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Models.com 2016 Industry Awards". Models.com. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Models.com 2018 Industry Awards". Models.com. December 19, 2018. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ Beer, Madison (August 2, 2017). Madison Beer's "Dead" Video Will Star Presley Gerber (interview) (Video). 103.3 AMP Radio. Event occurs at 00:19–0:26. Retrieved September 21, 2026 – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ Brookins, Laurie (September 9, 2017). "Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber Talk About Daughter Kaia's Calvin Klein Walk". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 12, 2026. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Rande Gerber & Presley Gerber – The Wager (Series 1, Episode 8)". Apple TV. November 26, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  21. ↑ Malkin, Marc (October 24, 2024). "Celebrity Pickleball Series 'The Wager,' Hosted by Jason Kennedy, to Begin Streaming Later This Year (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  22. ↑ Frey, Kaitlyn (January 2, 2019). "Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber's Son Presley Gerber, 19, Charged with DUI". People. Archived from the original on September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  23. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (September 20, 2026). "Presley Gerber, Son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, Dies at 27". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Cindy Crawford's son defends his surprising new face tattoo". TODAY.com. February 11, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2026. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  25. ↑ Manning, Charles (March 12, 2020). "Presley Gerber Compares His Face Tattoo to Changing Genders". Daily Front Row. Archived from the original on September 22, 2026. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  26. ↑ Garner, Glenn (August 10, 2021). "Presley Gerber Seems to Have Removed His 'Misunderstood' Face Tattoo a Year After Ink's Debut". People. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  27. ↑ Graham, Chris (September 21, 2026). "Presley Gerber, Cindy Crawford's son, dies aged 27". BBC News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  28. ↑ Etienne, Vanessa (March 2, 2023). "Presley Gerber Wants to Raise Mental Health Awareness After Struggling with Depression". People. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  29. ↑ Suliman, Adela (September 21, 2026). "Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford, dies at 27". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 McKinley, Jesse (October 6, 2026). "For Years, Presley Gerber Documented His Own Struggles, in His Own Words". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  31. ↑ O'Grady, Sean (September 21, 2026). "Presley Gerber had psychedelic drug treatment in Mexico just months before he died". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  32. ↑ Durkan, Deirdre (September 21, 2026). "Presley Gerber Appeared Alongside Parents Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber in Last Public Appearance 3 Months Before His Death". People. Archived from the original on September 22, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  33. ↑ Winton, Richard (September 26, 2026). "Inside the ultra-luxury sober living home where Presley Gerber died of suspected overdose". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2026. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  34. ↑ Pizzimenti, Chiara (October 11, 2026). "George Clooney Is Mourning Presley Gerber: "It's The Worst Thing"". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  35. ↑ Sands, Leo (September 21, 2026). "Presley Gerber, Model and Son of Cindy Crawford, Dies at 27". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2026.