Sister's testimony reveals addiction's ripple effect across family
Sister Kaia Gerber testified to addiction's impact on the family system beyond individual struggle.
Event / Health
Presley Gerber Death
Presley Gerber, 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died on September 20 at a rehab facility in Los Angeles. The cause of death is pending autopsy results. Gerber had been publicly open about his struggles with mental health, anxiety, panic attacks, and substance abuse, including opioid use disorder.
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2026-09-21 to 2026-11-03 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 21 Sept, 07:26 UTC
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What happened
Presley Gerber joins list of celebrities who died at age 27
With his death at age 27, Presley Gerber joined the notable group of celebrities known as the 'Club of 27,' referring to famous musicians and entertainers who died at that same age.
Presley Gerber had history of DUI arrest and mental health struggles
Presley Gerber was arrested in 2019 for driving under the influence and sentenced to three years probation with mandatory alcohol education program and two days of community service. In recent years, he spoke openly about depression and other mental health issues, participating in a podcast in 2023 where he discussed his struggles and desire to help others facing similar challenges.
Presley Gerber underwent controversial ibogaine treatment
In March 2026, Presley Gerber posted on Instagram about undergoing treatment with ibogaine, a psychoactive molecule extracted from the iboga plant root. While ibogaine has been studied for potential therapeutic use in treating opioid, cocaine, and alcohol dependence in the United States and Israel, no therapeutic benefit has been demonstrated according to a 2007 French National Assembly report on the substance.
American model Presley Gerber dies at age 27
Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at age 27. He was found dead at a rehabilitation center. An autopsy was ordered to determine the cause of death. Presley was a professional model who had worked for luxury brands including Céline.
Presley Gerber launched Mental Health Mondays social media initiative
Presley Gerber created and posted videos on Instagram titled 'Mental Health Mondays' to raise awareness about mental health issues. He spoke openly about his use of antidepressants and other medications, sharing his personal experience with addiction and mental health challenges to help others facing similar struggles.
Presley Gerber struggled with mental health issues and addiction
Presley Gerber publicly discussed his long-term struggles with mental health, depression, and addiction. He was arrested for driving under the influence in 2019. In 2020, he briefly had the word 'misunderstood' tattooed on his face before having it removed. He had been treated by multiple psychiatrists and took various medications including Xanax, Valium, and buprénorphine to manage panic attacks and depression.
Cindy Crawford publicly supported her son's recovery efforts
Cindy Crawford publicly expressed pride in her son's struggles and recovery efforts. She commented on his March 2026 Instagram post about treatment, writing 'You are a warrior! You walked through fire to find yourself! I am so proud.' She also posted on Facebook in July 2026 expressing pride in the man he had become.
Presley Gerber was a professional model who worked for major fashion brands
Presley Gerber began his modeling career at age 15-16 and was signed by IMG Models. He worked for major international fashion brands including Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren. He appeared in publications including American Vogue, Vogue France, and GQ magazine.
Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford, dies at age 27
Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died on September 20, 2026. He was staying at a detoxification center near Los Angeles at the time of his death. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, pending autopsy results. The family requested privacy during this difficult period.
Presley Gerber discussed using ibogaine for rapid cocaine withdrawal
In March 2026, Presley Gerber posted on Instagram about using ibogaine, a substance known for facilitating rapid withdrawal from cocaine addiction. He described facing what he had been avoiding and rebuilding his path forward, expressing hope that his latest treatment would be his last need for detoxification.
Presley Gerber struggled with addiction and mental health issues for a decade
Presley Gerber had publicly discussed his long-standing battle with substance addiction, depression, anxiety, and panic disorders. His sister Kaia Gerber described in Vogue magazine (September 2026) that he had been struggling with drug dependence for approximately ten years. He had previously been arrested in 2019 for driving under the influence of drugs and was sentenced to three years of probation with mandatory safety awareness training and community service.
Presley Gerber had begun modeling career in his mid-teens
Presley Gerber began his career as a model at age 15 or 16, following in the footsteps of his mother Cindy Crawford. He worked on advertising campaigns for major brands including Omega and Pepsi before largely stepping back from modeling work. He had over 150,000 Instagram followers and regularly shared content related to his mental health journey.
Presley Gerber publicly documented his mental health treatment
In recent years, Presley Gerber shared details on social media about his ongoing mental health treatment and medication regimen. In December 2025, he publicly listed the medications he was taking daily to manage his various mental health conditions. He described mental health maintenance as 'full-time work' during a 2023 podcast interview, emphasizing its importance in his life.
Sister Kaia Gerber reflects on family impact of Presley's struggles
Kaia Gerber, Presley's younger sister and fellow model and actress, disclosed in Vogue magazine (September 2026) that she had adopted the role of the 'easy child' who didn't cause problems, avoiding asking for help because she felt it would be too much burden for their parents to support two children with needs. She expressed pride in Presley's willingness to speak publicly about his mental health struggles, viewing it as important to avoid making others feel shame.
Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford, dies at age 27
Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at age 27. He was found dead at a rehabilitation center in California where he was undergoing treatment for substance addiction. The exact circumstances of his death were not immediately disclosed, pending an autopsy by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
Presley Gerber received facial tattoo reading 'Misunderstood'
In 2020, Presley Gerber had the word 'Misunderstood' tattooed on his face below his eye. The highly visible facial tattoo generated significant criticism given his work in the modeling industry. He defended the choice publicly, explaining that those criticizing him did not understand what he was experiencing.
Presley Gerber worked as a professional model
Presley Gerber worked as a model, signed by IMG Models at age 15. He walked runways during fashion weeks for designers including Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana and had campaigns with Calvin Klein, Celine, and other major fashion brands.
Sister Kaia Gerber discusses impact of brother's addiction on family
Model Kaia Gerber, Presley's sister, discussed in a recent Vogue interview how her brother's decade-long struggle with substance abuse affected the family. She praised Presley for being open about his mental health and addiction, contrasting his transparency with her parents' historically private approach to family matters. Kaia noted that seeing her brother's openness helped normalize discussions about mental health struggles.
Presley Gerber had struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues
Presley Gerber had been open about ongoing struggles with mental health and substance abuse. In December 2025, he posted a video detailing his treatment plan and medications, including buprenorphine for opioid use disorder and benzodiazepines (Xanax and Valium) for anxiety and panic attacks. He had previously been arrested for driving under the influence in January 2019 and sentenced to three years probation.
Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford, dies at 27 in rehab facility
Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died on September 20 at a rehab facility. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, he was pronounced dead at the facility. No cause of death has been determined at the time of reporting, pending completion of an autopsy.
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2 alternative perspectives
Recovery milestones and experimental treatment marked final months
Gerber's documented recovery included five months sobriety and experimental ibogaine treatment before his death.
Treatment choices shaped Gerber's recovery path before death
Gerber pursued experimental ibogaine treatment for cocaine withdrawal after documented legal involvement with substance abuse.
Presley Gerber's modeling career shaped by public struggles
Professional model Presley Gerber's fashion career was defined alongside documented personal and health struggles.
Family's decade-long struggle with addiction leaves lasting legacy
Presley Gerber's death ends a decade-long family addiction journey marked by public support and advocacy.
Gerber's DUI arrest and ibogaine treatment mark legal, medical history
Gerber's arrest record and ibogaine treatment mark his legal and medical intervention history.
Gerber's advocacy shaped public discourse on addiction recovery
Gerber's mental health advocacy and family support shaped public recovery dialogue.
Public persona versus private identity shaped Gerber's modeling journey
Gerber's 'Misunderstood' tattoo symbolized the divide between public persona and private identity.
Model and son of Cindy Crawford dies at 27 in rehab facility
Model Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford, died at 27 while in rehab for substance abuse and mental health struggles.