Standing at 6'0", with a sweet gaze, an enigmatic smile, and a mole almost identical to the one that made his mother, Cindy Crawford (60), world-famous. On September 20, TMZ exclusively announced the death of Presley Gerber at 27 years old in a detox clinic in Los Angeles. The exact cause of death will be determined by the autopsy, and the family has requested privacy.
Born in Beverly Hills, Presley was the firstborn of supermodel and millionaire entrepreneur Rande Gerber (64). The couple has another daughter, Kaia (25), whose resemblance to her mother has made her a sought-after model.
Handsome and with the genes of his famous parents, Presley chose the easy path to make money and become famous. While still studying, at 15 he signed with the IMG Models agency and soon after was posing with his sister Kaia for CR Fashion Book in front of the camera of Bruce Weber, one of the best photographers of recent decades and a close friend of Cindy's after their reconciliation following a loud argument in the 90s when Weber kicked Crawford out of a gym during a Revlon session for what he considered rude behavior towards the team.
The Gerber siblings were so immersed in the fashion world that at that time, Presley also worked as a photographer with his sister as the model in the mansion their parents owned in Malibu, which they later put up for sale for $60 million.
Gradually, Presley started landing more lucrative contracts. In 2016, he starred in a Calvin Klein campaign and finally, that same year, debuted in Los Angeles on the runway alongside newcomer Anwar Hadid, brother of top models Gigi and Bella, at the Moschino Resort 2017 collection fashion show.
In June 2017, at 17, he graduated from Malibu High School, where other nepobabies have also studied. At that time, Presley was torn between enrolling in college or continuing his path as a model. His initial intention was to study Business Administration to help his father in his businesses. One of them, the Casamigos tequila brand, founded with his friend George Clooney, brought in substantial profits when sold for $1 billion ($700 million euros).
However, the teenager ultimately chose the latter option. After high school, he walked for Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Men's Fashion Week, where his mother watched him for the first time. In an interview with W magazine, he confessed that all he thought about while walking the runway was not to trip and make it to the end.
Behind that perfect family facade was a growing reality. Drugs began to accompany Presley, who also struggled with mental health issues. In 2018, he was sentenced to three years of probation for driving under the influence of alcohol. Two years later, he appeared in public with a tattoo on his face that read 'misunderstood,' a message his parents interpreted as a cry for help.
In an interview on the Studio 22 podcast in 2023, he acknowledged his mental health issues, and a year later, he revealed on Instagram that he was battling a severe drug addiction. "I'm dealing with a very strong opioid addiction and have been in and out of it for years. I think practically everyone knows... and if not, now you do," he stated. According to Page Six, he also admitted to having suffered a fentanyl overdose that nearly took his life. This episode led him to make the decision six months ago to enter rehabilitation at a clinic in Cancun (Mexico) and attempt recovery through treatment with ibogaine, a psychoactive compound derived from the root of an African shrub.
In a video, he admitted being "terrified" at the idea of undergoing the controversial treatment, illegal in the United States, and received support from his parents and sister Kaia Gerber for his "courage." "You are a warrior! You walked through fire to find yourself! I am so proud!" wrote his mother. Kaia, to whom he was very close, also showed her support: "That's my brother, I am so proud!"
Presley did not post anything else on Instagram, but it was known that he was getting back on track. In August, he shared a photo, and that same month, his sister Kaia spoke about his recovery in Vogue. Unfortunately, the rehabilitation process did not have a happy ending.