Long before his death at 27, Presley Gerber was asked to imagine where life might take him a decade later. As a teenager beginning his modeling career, he told Vogue France that he wanted the experience to be about more than fashion. He hoped to have fun, travel, meet creative people, and develop his interest in photography. When asked where he expected to be ten years down the road, Presley pictured himself living in New York and running his own bar or club, following the path of his father, businessman Rande Gerber, who owned bars and restaurants and a tequila brand. But when Presley was asked about his biggest dream, his answer was much simpler: he wanted a job he genuinely enjoyed so that going to work would never feel like a burden. His career later developed in several directions. By 2023, he was working toward a real estate license and considering a project called “Mental Health Mondays,” which would explore different aspects of mental health and draw from his own experiences with treatment, therapy, exercise, nutrition, and other approaches. He hoped his openness could help others navigate difficulties he had encountered himself.

Presley’s personal struggles became increasingly public over the years. Following a 2019 DUI arrest, he received probation and was required to complete a DUI program and community service. In 2020, he attracted widespread attention after tattooing “MISUNDERSTOOD” across his right cheekbone at age 20, later responding to criticism of the decision. He subsequently spoke more openly about mental health and recovery. In August 2026, his sister Kaia Gerber discussed his decade-long struggle with drug addiction in Vogue and said she was deeply proud of his willingness to be open about his experiences. Presley continued modeling, with his final Instagram post showing him working with sportswear brand Vuori Clothing. He died on September 20, 2026, at age 27. His family confirmed his death and asked for privacy, while the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed his place of death as a rehabilitation facility. An official cause of death had not been released when the news emerged, with the case still open. Looking back at the hopes Presley expressed as a teenager, his words about wanting meaningful work and a life he enjoyed offer a poignant glimpse into the future he once imagined for himself.