Presley Walker Gerber, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, has died at the age of 27, with authorities investigating what they describe as a suspected overdose.
Presley died on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. His death was confirmed through records from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner and by a representative for his family.
His family has asked for privacy as they deal with the loss.
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” family representative Allie Jenkins said.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation and authorities have stressed that the official cause and manner of death have not yet been established.
What happened to Presley
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responded to the rehabilitation facility after reports of a cardiac arrest. Dispatch information also referenced an apparent overdose.
Presley was pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m. on September 20 after paramedics arrived. Reports indicate he had checked into the rehabilitation facility only hours earlier, around 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Police are investigating the death as a suspected overdose. However, investigators have not publicly confirmed what substance may have been involved.
Santa Monica police said there was currently no indication of foul play.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Monday but deferred determining the cause and manner of death because further testing was required.
The department said additional studies had been requested and that, because the investigation is ongoing, it could take months before an official cause of death is established.
Police are also reportedly investigating where any drugs involved may have come from.
A young man who grew up in the spotlight
Born in California in 1999, Presley grew up as part of one of America’s best-known celebrity families.
His mother, Cindy Crawford, became one of the world’s most recognisable supermodels after rising to fame during the 1980s and 1990s. His father, Rande Gerber, built a career in business and hospitality, including the development of the nightlife and restaurant brand Gerber Group.
Cindy and Rande married in 1998 and had two children – Presley and his younger sister, model and actress Kaia Gerber.
Presley was therefore raised around fashion, entertainment and celebrity from an early age, but he also attempted to establish a career of his own.
He was signed to IMG Models at 15 and entered modelling as a teenager. He later appeared on runways and in campaigns for major fashion brands, including Calvin Klein, Celine and Dolce & Gabbana.
In 2018, he appeared alongside Kaia in a Calvin Klein Jeans global campaign.
His own struggles became part of his story
Away from modelling, Presley had increasingly spoken publicly about mental health, depression and substance abuse.
In interviews and social media posts, he discussed his personal struggles and his efforts to work through them.
Speaking on the Studio 22 podcast, Presley described mental health as an issue that had become a major part of his life.
“[Mental health] is an issue. It is such a big part of my life, it’s a 24/7 job,” he said.
He also spoke about wanting his experiences to help other people who were dealing with similar problems.
“I’ve seen a lot of stuff and I’ve learned a lot of things,” he said, adding that he hoped his mistakes could prevent others from making the same ones.
Presley later began sharing what he called “Mental Health Mondays” content online, discussing recovery, healthy habits and the importance of finding support.
A family already familiar with the struggle
Presley’s battle with addiction was not entirely hidden from the public.
His sister Kaia spoke about his struggles in an interview with Vogue published in August, shortly before his death.
Kaia described the effect his problems had on the family and said she was proud of her brother for being open about what he was experiencing.
She described how difficult it could be when one member of a family requires significant attention and support, explaining that she sometimes positioned herself as “the easy one” and avoided asking for help herself.
Her comments have added context to the family’s grief following Presley’s death.
The 2019 DUI case
Presley’s struggles had also previously resulted in legal trouble.
In 2019, he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. He was subsequently sentenced to three years of probation, ordered to complete a DUI programme and required to perform two days of community service.
The incident became one of the more widely reported moments in Presley’s young life as he attempted to establish himself independently from his famous parents.
His final months
Despite his struggles, Presley had continued speaking publicly about recovery and personal wellbeing.
In June 2026, he appeared alongside his parents at an event in Malibu, where he spoke about growing up in the public eye and the importance of being honest about personal struggles.
“The most free I felt was when I was finally honest with myself,” Presley said at the event.
He encouraged people to develop healthy routines and remain active, reflecting on his own childhood involvement in sports, swimming, surfing and water polo.
His death came just months after photographs showed him with Cindy, Rande and Kaia at public events.
No final cause of death yet
While reports have described the death as a suspected overdose, that is not yet the official cause of death.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has specifically said the cause and manner of death have been deferred pending additional testing.
Santa Monica police have also said there is no indication of foul play at this stage.
For now, the investigation continues while the family mourns the death of a 27-year-old son and brother who spent much of his life under the intense attention that came with being part of the Crawford-Gerbe
