Presley Gerber, a model and the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died Sept. 20. He was 27.
Born into one of fashion's most recognizable families, Gerber followed his mother and younger sister,Kaia Gerber, into the fashion industry as a teenager. He went on to walk runways and appear in campaigns for major brands.
In recent years, Gerber spoke publicly about his experiences with addiction, depression and recovery. He discussed his mental health openly, launched a social media series intended to encourage candid conversations and documented parts of his treatment journey.
Here's what we know about his death, family and final public appearance:
What happened to Presley Gerber?
Gerber
died at a rehabilitation facility, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner viewed by USA TODAY. TMZ was first to report the news.
A representative for Crawford and Rande Gerber confirmed his death to USA TODAY. "The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time," the statement said.
How did Presley Gerber die?
An official cause of death had not been announced as of Sept. 21, and an autopsy has not yet been completed.
Although Gerber had discussed addiction and mental health challenges before his death, officials have not said whether either played a role.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Los Angeles Examiner for more information.
Who are Presley Gerber's parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber?
Gerber was the eldest child and only son of Crawford and Rande Gerber, who have been married since 1998. His younger sister is model and actress Kaia Gerber.
Cindy Crawford is a supermodel and entrepreneur who rose to prominence in the 1980s and '90s, appearing on hundreds of magazine covers and in campaigns for major fashion brands. She later expanded her career into television and business.
His father, Rande Gerber, is a hospitality entrepreneur who founded the nightlife companies Midnight Oil and Gerber Group, which have operated restaurants, bars and lounges around the world. He also cofounded the tequila brand Casamigos with George Clooney and later founded the beverage company Gerber Spirits.
Like his mother and sister, Presley pursued modeling. His work included campaigns for Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana, and he appeared alongside Crawford in a Pepsi commercial that aired during the 2018 Super Bowl.
What was Presley Gerber's relationship with Kaia Gerber like?
Presley was Kaia Gerber's older brother, and the siblings both grew up in Malibu before entering the modeling industry. Kaia recalled in an August Vogue interview that her brother surfed before school and sometimes arrived carrying his board and wearing his wetsuit. During the same interview, Kaia also discussed how Presley's addiction affected their family and expressed pride in his decision to speak openly about his experiences.
"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. Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing."
When he shared a post on Instagram about undergoing addiction treatment in March, Kaia responded, "That's my brother I am so damn proud."
What did Presley Gerber say about addiction and mental health?
Gerber increasingly used his public platform to discuss depression, addiction and recovery. During a 2023 appearance on the "Studio 22" podcast, he said he hoped sharing his mistakes and what he had learned could help others facing similar challenges.
He later launched a social media series called "Mental Health Mondays" to encourage candid conversations about the taboo topic. In a March Instagram post, Gerber documented undergoing ibogaine treatment for addiction and wrote about confronting what he had been avoiding. "Quite moment before everything changed," he wrote in the caption.
Ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled psychoactive substance used to treat mental health problems and substance use disorders, but it is not classified as a legal treatment in the United States and is banned in some countries due to its high risk for misuse. It has several serious side effects including seizures, heart effects and dangerous behavior, according to WebMD.
What was Presley Gerber's last public appearance?
Gerber's final reported public appearance was June 11 at the We Are Enough x Aviator Nation launch event in Malibu, California, according to People.
Crawford and Rande Gerber attended the mental health-focused event to support their son, who participated in a panel about his experiences. During the discussion, Presley spoke about vulnerability, movement and spending time outdoors as ways he navigated difficult periods.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental and/or substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free and confidential treatment referral and information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cindy Crawford's son Presley Gerber dead at 27 – What we know about his death
