Cindy Crawford Biography: Supermodel, Entrepreneur and Business Mogul

October 18, 2026

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Cindy Crawford is an American supermodel, entrepreneur and television host born February 20, 1966, in DeKalb, Illinois. One of the defining supermodels of the 1990s, she fronted campaigns for Pepsi, Revlon and Omega, hosted MTV’s House of Style, and built the Meaningful Beauty skincare empire — a career that made her one of fashion’s most enduring business success stories.

This Cindy Crawford biography traces her path from small-town Illinois to global fame, her landmark endorsements, her business ventures and her family life.

Quick Facts: Cindy Crawford Biography at a Glance

Full name: Cynthia Ann Crawford
Born: February 20, 1966, in DeKalb, Illinois, USA
Nationality: American
Occupation: Supermodel, entrepreneur, television host, occasional actress
Known for: One of the original 1990s supermodels; Pepsi and Revlon campaigns; MTV’s House of Style; Meaningful Beauty
Spouse: Rande Gerber (married 1998); previously married to Richard Gere (1991–1995)
Children: Presley Gerber (1999–2026), Kaia Gerber (born 2001)

Early Life and Education

Cynthia Ann Crawford was born on February 20, 1966, in DeKalb, Illinois, to John and Jennifer Crawford, according to Encyclopedia.com and IMDb. She grew up in a close-knit family alongside her siblings; her younger brother Jeffrey died of leukemia when he was three years old, a loss that later shaped her charitable work. Crawford excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian of DeKalb High School’s class of 1984 and earning a scholarship to study chemical engineering at Northwestern University. She left after a single quarter to pursue modeling full time — a gamble that would define the next four decades of her life.

Modeling Career and the Supermodel Era

Crawford was noticed by a local photographer as a teenager, and at 17 she became a finalist in Elite Model Management’s “Look of the Year” competition. She moved to New York City in 1986, and within a few years she stood at the center of the supermodel phenomenon alongside Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. Her athletic build, brown hair and signature mole above her lip made her instantly recognizable, and she went on to grace more than 400 magazine covers, including Vogue, Elle and Cosmopolitan.

The January 1990 cover of British Vogue — featuring Crawford with her fellow supermodels — became one of fashion’s most iconic images. That same year she appeared in George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90” music video. From 1989 to 1995 she hosted MTV’s House of Style, bringing fashion to a mainstream television audience. Her advertising work became cultural shorthand for the era: she starred in Pepsi’s legendary 1992 Super Bowl commercial (and remade it in 2016), held a long-running global contract with Revlon, and has served as an Omega watches ambassador since 1995 — one of the longest luxury-watch partnerships in the industry. She also ventured into acting, starring opposite Billy Baldwin in the 1995 film Fair Game.

Business Ventures and Achievements

Crawford understood early that a modeling career has a shelf life, and she converted fame into ownership. In 2004 she co-founded the skincare line Meaningful Beauty with French cosmetic doctor Jean-Louis Sebagh and direct-marketing company Guthy-Renker. Unlike a standard endorsement, the deal gave Crawford a 50% ownership stake — a decision Forbes later credited as the engine of her fortune, with the brand generating more than $100 million in annual revenue for roughly a decade. She also built the Cindy Crawford Home Collection of furniture and home furnishings, and partnered on a home-goods line with J.C. Penney in 2009.

Her later career has been a study in longevity. She published the memoir Becoming in 2015, combining career photographs with reflections on the modeling industry, and in 2023 she appeared alongside Campbell, Evangelista and Turlington in the Apple TV+ docuseries The Super Models. The blueprint she created — supermodel turned founder — is now the industry standard, followed by a generation of models including Gigi Hadid, who has built her own business portfolio in Crawford’s wake.

Personal Life

Crawford married actor Richard Gere in Las Vegas in December 1991; the couple separated in 1994 and divorced in 1995. On May 29, 1998, she married businessman and former model Rande Gerber in a private ceremony at the Ocean Club in the Bahamas, and the couple have been together ever since. They had two children: son Presley Gerber (1999–2026) and daughter Kaia Gerber (born 2001), who has followed her mother into modeling and acting.

On October 18, 2026, Crawford, Gerber and Kaia issued their first public statement on Presley’s death at 27 the previous month, writing on Crawford’s Instagram: “We are beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother… Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever, Mom, Dad and Kaia” (Page Six). Presley had spoken openly about his struggles with mental health and addiction. No official cause of death has been announced; Page Six has reported that 911 audio indicated he went into cardiac arrest and was treated for a suspected overdose, which is reported — not confirmed — information. Beyond her family, Crawford has long supported childhood-cancer research in memory of her brother Jeffrey, as well as breast and ovarian cancer causes.

Net Worth Snapshot

Cindy Crawford’s net worth is estimated at USD 225 million as of 2026, based on Forbes‘ 2021 valuation of her individual fortune — the most recent reputable estimate available. Combined with her husband Rande Gerber’s wealth, which includes the proceeds of the up-to-$1-billion Casamigos tequila sale, the couple’s household fortune is estimated at around USD 400 million. For the full breakdown — her Meaningful Beauty stake, endorsement earnings, real estate deals and the transparent methodology behind the figures — read Cindy Crawford’s net worth analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Cindy Crawford?

Cindy Crawford was born on February 20, 1966, in DeKalb, Illinois, which makes her 60 years old as of 2026.

Who is Cindy Crawford married to?

Cindy Crawford has been married to businessman Rande Gerber since May 29, 1998. She was previously married to actor Richard Gere from 1991 to 1995.

What is Cindy Crawford best known for?

Crawford is best known as one of the original 1990s supermodels, for her Pepsi Super Bowl commercial, her long-running Revlon contract, hosting MTV’s House of Style, and founding the Meaningful Beauty skincare line, in which she owns a 50% stake.

How many children does Cindy Crawford have?

Cindy Crawford had two children with Rande Gerber: son Presley Gerber (1999–2026) and daughter Kaia Gerber (born 2001), a model and actress.

What happened to Cindy Crawford’s son Presley?

Presley Gerber died on September 20, 2026, at age 27, at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. On October 18, 2026, Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber and Kaia Gerber issued a joint statement saying they were “beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother.” No official cause of death has been announced.