Presley Gerber’s death has put renewed focus on one of the entertainment industry’s most famous families.
Gerber, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died Sept. 20 at age 27 while staying at a rehabilitation facility, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. His cause of death has not been released.
“The family is in total shock right now. They are saddened beyond words,” a source told People magazine. “Kaia [Gerber] loved that Presley was so open about his struggles; his family was so proud that he was finding strength in helping others.”
PRESLEY GERBER, SON OF CINDY CRAWFORD AND RANDE GERBER, DEAD AT 27
A representative for the family told Fox News Digital, “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
The Gerber-Crawford family has long attracted attention because of its connections to fashion, Hollywood, business and celebrity culture. At the center of the family are Cindy and Rande, who raised Presley and their daughter, model and actress Kaia Gerber.
Cindy rose to fame in the 1980s and became one of the most recognizable faces in fashion.
She appeared on hundreds of magazine covers and worked with designers and brands around the world. Crawford was also part of the “Big Five” supermodels, a group that included Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Tatjana Patitz.
Her work reached beyond the runway, with appearances in advertising campaigns, music videos, television programs and movies. Cindy later expanded her career into business, launching beauty, skin care and wellness ventures while continuing to work as a model and brand ambassador.
While Cindy was becoming a fashion icon, Rande established his own career in hospitality and nightlife.
He founded the Gerber Group, which operated bars, lounges and restaurants in hotels and entertainment venues around the world. His businesses helped make him a prominent figure in the hospitality industry.
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Rande later joined forces with actor George Clooney and real estate developer Mike Meldman to create Casamigos tequila. The brand began as a private venture among friends before becoming a major spirits company.
Rande’s friendship and business partnership with Clooney also connected the two families. Cindy and Rande built a home next door to Clooney’s property in Los Cabos, Mexico, with the two residences designed as neighboring villas.
The families remained close in their business and social circles. Rande and Cindy later purchased an apartment in the same New York City building as George and Amal Clooney, according to the New York Post.
Cindy and Rande married in 1998 and welcomed Presley in 1999. Their daughter, Kaia, was born in 2001.
The couple has largely kept their family life private, choosing to raise their children away from the constant spotlight surrounding their careers. However, both Presley and Kaia eventually followed their mother into the fashion industry.
In a recent interview with Porter magazine, Cindy discussed the challenges of becoming an empty nester as both of her children established homes and careers of their own.
“When they become adults, all of a sudden you’re like, okay, I’ve got to back off here. It might not be the way I would do it, but you know,” she said.
She described the transition as an opportunity to reconnect with Rande after nearly three decades of marriage.
“When you get married, you talk about what kind of family you want or where we’re going to live. But no one ever talks about what this phase looks like, empty nesting, because it’s so far away you can’t even imagine it,” she said. “But it’s an opportunity for us to redefine our relationship.”
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“What do we want to do? Do we want to travel, do we not want to travel?” she continued. “We haven’t answered those questions yet, but we’re asking the questions, and it’s fun trying to figure that out together.”
Cindy also expressed hope that she would one day become a grandmother.
“One thing I’m really looking forward to is being a grandmother,” she said. “I’m at the age where a lot of my friends are starting to have grandkids, and even though I don’t think either one of my kids is close, I do hope I get to experience that, because it looks really fun.”
Presley was born in Beverly Hills, California, in 1999. He signed with IMG Models at age 15 and began building a career in fashion.
He walked in runway shows for designers including Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana and appeared in campaigns for brands including Calvin Klein.
Presley also worked alongside Kaia, who was establishing her own career in the fashion industry. In 2018, he told People magazine that having his sister in the business made modeling “a lot less lonely.”
Kaia began modeling as a child and later signed with IMG Models, the same agency that represented her brother and mother.
She quickly became one of the most recognizable young faces in fashion, walking in runway shows and appearing in campaigns for major designers and brands.
Kaia has also pursued acting. Her credits include appearances in “American Horror Story,” “Bottoms,” and “The Shards.”
Although she has often been compared to her mom, Kaia has spoken about developing her own identity and career outside of her mother’s legacy.
Cindy has said she was proud of the relationship between her two children.
“Nothing makes, I think, a parent prouder than when your kids like each other and love each other,” she said during a People magazine interview.
Presley was known to speak publicly about his mental-health and addiction struggles. Although Cindy and Rande generally kept those issues private, they publicly supported him when he chose to discuss his experiences.
In March, Presley shared a post about undergoing an “ibogaine flood dose” at a wellness clinic in Cancún, Mexico.
Cindy commented on the post, writing, “You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!”
Rande also shared a message of support.
“I’m so proud of you and your courage,” he wrote. “Facing what’s hard takes real strength, and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much.”
A source told Page Six that what was seen online wasn’t just an act.
“They were so close,” a source told the outlet. “What you saw online and in the press wasn’t just for that purpose. They were a tight-knit family and Kaia and Presley were more than just siblings. Cindy has to be beyond gutted.”
Kaia praised her brother’s willingness to be honest about his struggles in a Vogue cover story published in August, about a month before his death.
“My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything — and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone,’” Kaia said. “There’s only so much you can hide from the world.”
She also described the impact of his addiction on the entire family.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” Kaia said.
A source told People magazine that Cindy and Rande were never “two absent Hollywood parents.”
“Cindy and Rande could not have been more supportive of Presley,” the source said. “They were always there for him and did everything they could to help him. The family has always been incredibly close, and Presley was deeply loved.”
