When you think of heavy-hitting wealth in the South, your mind probably drifts toward the oil magnates of Texas or the tech bros of Florida. But tucked away in the historic, cobblestone streets of Charleston lives a man who has quietly built a global empire that impacts where millions of people sleep every night. If you’re looking for the South Carolina richest person, the name you need to know is Robert Faith.
Most people outside the real estate world haven't heard of him. He isn't out there tweeting memes or launching rockets. But Bob Faith—as he's known to basically everyone—is the founder and CEO of Greystar, and his net worth has climbed to an staggering $5.8 billion as of early 2026.
That is serious money. To put it in perspective, he’s currently sitting ahead of other state icons like Anita Zucker, the chemical queen of InterTech Group, whose fortune has hovered around the $2.3 billion mark. While Zucker held the crown for years as the state’s sole billionaire, Faith’s real estate dominance has pushed him into a different stratosphere.
How the South Carolina Richest Person Built a $5.8 Billion Empire
Bob Faith didn't just stumble into billions. He’s originally an Oklahoma guy who studied petroleum engineering. Kinda random, right? But after getting his MBA at Harvard, he realized that the real money wasn't necessarily in the ground—it was in the buildings sitting on top of it.
He moved to South Carolina and founded Greystar in 1993. At the time, the idea was simple but massive: create a company that could manage, develop, and invest in apartments on a global scale.
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It worked. Like, really worked. Today, Greystar is the largest operator of apartments in the United States. If you’ve ever lived in a fancy-ish apartment building in a major city, there is a very high chance Bob Faith’s company was the one collecting your rent.
The Numbers Behind the Name
It’s easy to throw around the word "billion," but looking at the scale of Greystar’s operations helps explain why Faith is the South Carolina richest person:
- Total Units: They manage over 850,000 units globally.
- Asset Value: The company oversees more than $290 billion in real estate.
- Reach: They operate in nearly 250 markets across the world, from London to Mexico City.
The Battle for the Top Spot: Robert Faith vs. Anita Zucker
For a long time, if you searched for the wealthiest person in the Palmetto State, you’d get one answer: Anita Zucker. She’s a legend in Charleston, not just for her wealth from The InterTech Group, but for her massive philanthropy. She’s the daughter of Holocaust survivors and a former elementary school teacher—honestly, her story is incredible.
But the real estate market over the last few years has been a rocket ship for Faith. While Zucker's wealth is tied to specialty chemicals and manufacturing, Faith is riding the wave of the global housing crisis and the "rentership society."
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There's also Ben Navarro, the founder of Sherman Financial Group and the owner of the Credit One Bank Invitational. With a net worth estimated at $3.2 billion, he's a major player in the Charleston scene, but he’s still trailing Faith by a couple of billion.
Why Does This Rank Matter to South Carolinians?
You might wonder why we care who has the most zeros in their bank account. It’s not just about the leaderboard; it’s about where the power sits in the state. Robert Faith’s presence in Charleston has turned the city into a global hub for real estate finance.
When the South Carolina richest person decides to keep their headquarters in the state, it brings jobs, prestige, and a lot of investment. Greystar isn't just a name on a building; it's a massive employer that keeps Charleston on the map for something other than tourism and shrimp and grits.
Is he "Self-Made"?
Forbes gives Faith a high "self-made" score. He didn't inherit a family trust; he built the platform from scratch during a time when the apartment industry was fragmented and unprofessional. He saw that people were moving to cities and would always need a place to live, regardless of whether they could afford a mortgage.
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What Most People Get Wrong About SC Billionaires
A big misconception is that the wealthiest people in South Carolina are all old-money plantation owners or textile heirs. That’s just not the case anymore.
The top tier of the state's wealth is now dominated by:
- Global Real Estate: (Robert Faith)
- Investment & Finance: (Ben Navarro and Scott Bessent)
- Specialty Chemicals: (Anita Zucker)
Even Scott Bessent, who recently took a high-profile role as the U.S. Treasury Secretary in 2025, represents the "new money" of the state. Born in Conway, he’s a hedge fund veteran who has become a pivotal figure in both South Carolina's economic identity and the national stage.
How to Track Wealth Trends Like an Expert
If you want to keep tabs on the South Carolina richest person, you have to look beyond the static lists. Wealth in 2026 is incredibly fluid because so much of it is tied to private equity and real estate valuations rather than just public stocks.
- Watch the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): When apartment cap rates shift, Robert Faith's net worth moves with them.
- Monitor Local Acquisitions: When Greystar buys out a competitor like they did with Education Realty Trust, that’s a direct indicator of a wealth jump.
- Check the "Hidden" Assets: Many of these billionaires own sports teams (like Zucker's part-ownership of the South Carolina Stingrays) or massive real estate holdings that aren't always captured in a daily stock ticker.
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you’re looking to understand the financial landscape of the Palmetto State, here is what you should do next:
- Study the "Charleston Hub": Notice how the top three wealthiest people in the state all live in the Charleston area. It’s no longer just a tourist town; it’s the financial capital of the state.
- Follow Greystar's Annual Reports: Even if you aren't an investor, seeing where they are buying property tells you which cities are about to get more expensive.
- Look into the Philanthropy: Both Faith and Zucker are massive donors to local schools and hospitals. Following their foundations (like the Zucker Family School of Education) shows you where the "billionaire influence" is actually hitting the ground.
Robert Faith might be the South Carolina richest person today, but in the world of high-stakes real estate and global investments, the leaderboard is always one market shift away from changing again. For now, the King of Apartments is firmly on the throne.