Cindy Crawford’s son, model Presley Gerber, dies at 27

Presley Gerber, Model and Son of Cindy Crawford, Dies at 27

Earthguardiansonline.com – Presley Gerber, a model, entrepreneur and mental health advocate, has died at the age of 27. His family requested privacy as they face what a representative described as an exceptionally painful time.

Gerber died Sunday at a rehabilitation facility, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office said. No cause of death was listed.

Born in California in 1999, Gerber was the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber. He grew up alongside his younger sister, Kaia Gerber, who also built a career in fashion. In recent years, Presley Gerber had spoken candidly about mental health, addiction and the difficulties of dealing with loss.

A career that began on the runway

Gerber entered the fashion world as a teenager, making his runway debut at 16 for Italian fashion house Moschino. His work later included runway appearances for Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren.

He also appeared in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Celine, Pepsi and Omega, while his editorial work included GQ Style and The New York Times Style Magazine. DNA Model Management signed him in 2019 and described him as an investor and entrepreneur in addition to his modeling work.

The agency also represents Kaia Gerber, as well as figures including Emily Ratajkowski and Adwoa Aboah.

Though he was known publicly through fashion and his high-profile family, Gerber increasingly used his own platform to discuss more personal subjects. His “Mental Health Mondays” initiative focused on raising awareness around emotional wellbeing. He also supported organizations including A Sense of Home, a Los Angeles charity serving people experiencing homelessness.

Speaking openly about mental health and addiction

In a 2023 appearance on the Studio 22 podcast, Gerber described mental health as a central part of his life and spoke about wanting to use his visibility to help others feel less isolated.

Last December, he shared an Instagram video about prescription medication, including antidepressants and Xanax for panic attacks. The video was later removed, but it reflected the openness with which he had begun discussing his struggles.

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

Crawford responded publicly at the time with a message of support for her son.

“Presley — we love you and you are not alone.”

His death has brought renewed attention to the challenges faced by people navigating addiction, grief and mental health difficulties, particularly when those experiences unfold in public view. Gerber’s willingness to speak about those subjects was part of how he sought to connect with others beyond his work in fashion.

Tributes recall a caring brother and sensitive presence

Earlier this month, Kaia Gerber discussed the impact of her brother’s addiction struggles in a September cover story for American Vogue. She described the way such experiences can reshape an entire family and influence the roles people assume within it.

“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she said. “I think that’s also why I started to self-identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help.”

She also spoke warmly about the role Presley played in encouraging greater honesty within their family.

“My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything — and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone,’” she said.

In July, Crawford marked her son’s 27th birthday with a Facebook message expressing pride in the person he had become.

“I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, but I’ll always see you as my little boy!”

Fashion photographer Collier Schorr, who photographed both Gerber siblings, remembered him in an Instagram post as a protective older brother. Schorr recalled Presley accompanying Kaia to a Teen Vogue shoot and said the two were so close that they appeared almost like twins.

Schorr also reflected on photographing Gerber for a Hugo Boss campaign and described seeing him struggle under the pressure of public attention while still showing deep care and determination.

“I shot Pres a few times, the last being a Hugo Boss campaign. I could feel him struggling to be present under the scrutiny. But how he shone. He cared so much. He wanted to find his place. I can know how hard his family tried to keep him.”

Paris Hilton shared her grief in an Instagram Stories post Sunday, remembering Gerber as someone with a gentle and genuine nature.

“Presley, you were such a beautiful soul,” Hilton wrote. “So sweet, sensitive, kind and genuine. I cared about you so much, and I’m going to miss you more than words can say.”

Gerber is survived by his parents and sister. His career placed him among a generation of young models who moved between runway work, commercial campaigns and personal advocacy, but the remembrances following his death have focused most strongly on his relationships, sensitivity and efforts to be open about the struggles that shaped his life.