Born Gerardo Araneta Roxas Jr. on October 21, 1960, in Manila, Philippines to Gerardo Roxas (1924–1982) of Capiz and Judy Araneta of Bago, Negros Occidental.

He has two siblings, namely Maria Lourdes "Ria", married to Augusto Ojeda and mother of three, and Mar Roxas, married to broadcaster Korina Sanchez with his son Paolo Roxas and twins Pilar and Pepe.

Like his father before him, he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi while studying at the University of the Philippines.

[1] Roxas ran for a seat in the House of Representatives of the Philippines in the May 11, 1987 Philippine legislative election at the age of 26, becoming the youngest elected representative.

Years later, his family decided to transfer his remains to the Loyola Memorial Park.