difficult moment

Kaia Gerber faces devastating loss weeks after opening up about brother Presley: ‘She is heartbroken’

Kaia and Presley also navigated the unusual experience of entering the modeling industry together.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 1:20 PM EDTSEP 23, 2026, 1:20 PM EDT

Kaia Gerber is reportedly struggling with the devastating loss of her older brother, Presley Gerber, who died at the age of 27 on September 20.

You may also likeContinue reading

The 25-year-old model and actress is taking her brother's death “very, very hard,” according to a source who spoke to Page Six about the siblings' exceptionally close relationship.

Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber share two children, Presley and Kaia, who remained close into adulthood.

“Kaia and Presley were insanely close,” the source told the outlet, adding that the two shared a bond that extended far beyond that of brother and sister. “They were way more than brother and sister. She is heartbroken. They were like best friends,” the insider said.

Kaia and Presley were the only children of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber. Growing up together in Malibu, the siblings would eventually follow their famous mother into the modeling industry and frequently appeared alongside one another at fashion events and in campaigns.

Presley once said having his sister alongside him in the modeling industry made the experience “a lot less lonely.”

Their bond was also something Cindy had publicly celebrated. Speaking to People in May, the supermodel reflected on how much it meant to her to see her children remain close as adults.

“Nothing makes, I think, a parent prouder than when your kids like each other and love each other,” she said while discussing a campaign the family had worked on together.

Kaia's powerful words about Presley:

Just weeks before her brother's death, Kaia spoke candidly about Presley and the profound impact his experiences had on both her and their family.

Kaia previously praised her older brother for speaking openly about his experiences with addiction and mental health.

In her September 2026 cover interview with Vogue, the actress discussed Presley's years-long struggle with addiction and explained how watching what he went through affected her own role within the family. “When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she told the magazine.

Kaia explained that she began to think of herself as “the easy one” and became reluctant to ask for help because she felt it would be too much for her parents to have two children who needed support.

Kaia and Presley Gerber shared an exceptionally close relationship, with a source describing the siblings as “like best friends.”

At the same time, she expressed enormous pride in her older brother for choosing to speak publicly about his experiences with addiction and mental health.

Calling Presley an “absolute teacher,” Kaia praised his willingness to be vulnerable and open about what he had experienced.

The siblings grew up together in Malibu as the children of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber.

“There’s only so much you can hide from the world,” she told Vogue, explaining that attempting to conceal someone's struggles could leave that person feeling as though their family was ashamed of them.

Her support wasn't limited to interviews. When Presley publicly shared part of his recovery journey earlier this year, Kaia celebrated her brother in the comments, writing, “That’s my brother I am so damn proud.”

A bond that extended into their careers:

Kaia and Presley also navigated the unusual experience of entering the modeling industry together.

Kaia Gerber had opened up about her brother Presley and his struggles just weeks before his death.

Both began modeling as teenagers and went on to work with major fashion houses and brands. In 2018, they appeared together in a Calvin Klein campaign.

That same year, Presley spoke about how having his sister alongside him made the demands of their careers easier. “We’re a close family, especially me and my sister, so it’s definitely cool,” he told People at the time, explaining that traveling together made the experience “a lot less lonely.”

Kaia and Presley both followed their mother Cindy Crawford into the modeling world as teenagers.

Presley also permanently honored their bond in 2018 when he had Kaia's name tattooed on his arm.

The Gerber family mourns Presley:

Presley died Sunday morning at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California.

The Santa Monica Police Department has said it is investigating his death as a suspected overdose and that there are currently no indications of foul play. An autopsy has been performed, but the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has deferred the official cause and manner of death while additional testing is completed.

Kaia Gerber is mourning the death of her older brother, Presley Gerber, who died at age 27.

Following Presley's death, a representative for Cindy and Rande confirmed the news and asked that the family's privacy be respected. “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” the representative said.

Sources have since described a family in shock over the sudden loss. For Kaia, the tragedy comes only weeks after she publicly expressed how proud she was of the person her brother had become and his decision to turn some of his most difficult experiences into a way of helping others.