Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died Sunday of a suspected overdose, police said. He was 27.
The Santa Monica Police Department said it responded to a report of a possible overdose at a rehabilitation facility, where officers found Gerber dead around 9:35 a.m. local time.
“Detectives are investigating the death as a suspected overdose,” Santa Monica Police Lt. Lewis Gilmour said in a statement, “At this time, there is no indication of foul play.”
The official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, which performed an autopsy on Monday.
The medical examiner’s office told People magazine that “the cause and manner of death have been deferred, which means additional testing and/or studies were requested in order to make a determination.”
In a statement, a representative for the Gerber family said that it is “asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
Gerber was the older brother of model and actor Kaia Gerber. He was signed by IMG Models at age 15 and modeled for brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren.
He had previously spoken about his mental health and experiences with addiction. In 2018, he was arrested on a charge of DUI and sentenced to three years’ probation.
In 2020, Gerber had the word “misunderstood” tattooed on his right cheek.
“It says misunderstood, because that’s how I felt my entire life,” he said in a livestreamed Instagram video. The tattoo appeared to have been removed the following year.
“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do,” he told the Studio 22 podcast in 2023.
He added: “[Mental health] is an issue. It is such a big part of my life. It’s a 24/7 job, and there’s so much to it. That’s really what I want to do: help people. Whether you’re depressed, you’re struggling with something that is having a negative effect on your body. I mean, it could be anything, and there’s no judgment.”
In an Instagram video posted in December 2025, Gerber said he wanted clearer guidance from his doctors. “Every psychiatrist I’ve had, and I’ve had 15, are just like, ‘Well, here’s 20 medications and take this if you feel like this,'” he said. “And I’m like, ‘No, don’t give me that much leeway.’ I need some direction.”
In the same video, he said he had stopped drinking. “That is no longer serving me,” he said.
In one of his final Instagram posts, shared in March, Gerber posted footage from Mexico taken before undergoing what he called an “ibogaine flood dose.” Ibogaine, a psychoactive drug derived from the root of an African shrub, is not approved for medical use in the U.S. He wrote, “I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, I started finding my way back to myself.”
In an interview with Vogue published last month, Kaia reflected on her brother’s history with addiction. She said, “When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone. 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.”
Gerber’s family has yet to comment beyond their representative’s statement requesting privacy.
In an Instagram Stories post, Gerber’s friend Paris Hilton said she was “completely heartbroken.” She added, “Presley, you were such a beautiful soul. So sweet, sensitive, kind and genuine. I cared about you so much, and I’m going to miss you more than words can say.”
Brooklyn Beckham wrote, “I am so heartbroken. Presley you were the kindest and we are going to miss you so much. “
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at988lifeline.org24/7. Alternatively, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineon 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or text your ZIP code to HELP4U (435748).
