This Monday, the fashion world woke up to sad news: Presley Gerber - Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber's son - has passed away at the age of 27. The cause of his death has not been revealed so far. However, there are various pieces of information that have provided some clues about the circumstances of his death. In fact, the Los Angeles County coroner's records have indicated that the young man lost his life in a rehabilitation center, where he was trying to overcome an addiction he had been struggling with for years.
The first time Presley Gerber made headlines was on December 30, 2018, when he was arrested in Beverly Hills for driving under the influence of alcohol. And what was his punishment? Three years of probation, in addition to the obligation to participate in a program for sanctioned drivers. A measure that Presley complied with without major issues. Despite this, he did not make any public statements on the matter.
Furthermore, Gerber never publicly commented on when his substance abuse problem began. However, in February 2023, he granted an interview to Studio 22, where he admitted to having gone through various "mental health issues" - including depression - and confessed that his condition had led him to make numerous "mistakes"... that he did not dare to delve into.
But in August 2024, Gerber chose to be honest with his followers and revealed on Instagram that he was struggling with a severe drug addiction. "I am currently dealing with a very strong opioid addiction and have been in and out of it for years. I think practically everyone is aware... and if not, now you know," he stated.
Additionally, according to Page Six, he admitted that "he had suffered a fentanyl overdose that almost cost him his life" and left him in a coma for several days. This episode led him to decide to enter rehabilitation and try to recover through ibogaine treatment. Ibogaine is a psychoactive substance obtained from the root of an African plant called Tabernanthe iboga.
Following this, Presley also reportedly began trying to detox from alcohol and had given up all drinks. Perhaps the most striking aspect of his situation was that in December 2025, he revealed that, despite being sober, he was being treated with buprenorphine, Xanax, and Valium. Three medications that, as he mentioned on his social media, he feared and respected for what they could cause in him.
"I am scared of the medications I need, because the withdrawal syndrome of some can be more or less intense. I wish doctors would say 'take this three times a day'. But every psychiatrist I've had - and I've had 15 - tells me 'here are 20 medications and take this if you feel this way' and I'm like 'no, don't give me so much freedom'. Because I need some guidance," he stated.
Four months later, in March of this year, Gerber shared a post about his ibogaine treatment and, in his writing, the American spoke candidly about his processes. "Before receiving a high dose, I experienced a moment of calm. I was absolutely terrified and knew I would feel that way again if I ever had to face something similar. That's why my mantras were 'love yourself' and 'this has to be the last time'," he mentioned.
"It was hard for me to stop trying to control everything, but I trusted that there was something bigger than me guiding me. I knew why I was there. I faced what I had been running away from and, in the midst of it all, I began to find my way back to myself. Now I pray that this is the last time I have to go through this," he explained in a post that, unfortunately, went viral this morning.
Since that moment, Presley did not write anything else on Instagram. Although it was known that he was rebuilding his life. In June, he was seen at an event in Malibu, in August he shared a pose, and in the same month, his sister Kaia spoke about his recovery in Vogue. "My parents have always been very reserved. But now we have this true master, my brother, who says 'I'm going to show myself as I am to the whole world'," she proudly asserted.