The 11 Richest People in South Carolina
According to the data released by the 2020 United States Census, South Carolina ranks as the 23rd most populated state in the U.S., With a population of 5,124,712 and a Gross domestic product of $213.45 billion. Kiplinger Personal Finance notes that there 108,812 households in South Carolina had more than a million dollars of investable assets.
According to a report, Beaufort County, which includes the famous resort area of Hilton Head Island, is home to the richest people in South Carolina. Residents in Beaufort County are home to the famous Hilton Head Island and have a median household income of $74,199, which is significantly higher than the state’s median household income of $61,770 (9/23 FRED). Another metric that characterizes the wealth of South Carolina’s richest neighborhood is the median home price for Hilton Head, which was up over 5% to $749,893. (Zillow)
While the U.S. is home to the most billionaires out of any other country, only a few make our list of the wealthiest families in South Carolina; the balance remains a list of millionaires in South Carolina. So, who has stood out and made a name for themselves by making the list of the richest people in South Carolina?
Read on to learn who the richest person in South Carolina is and how we determined our eleven ranked massively wealthy people from the Palmetto State of South Carolina.
Our Methodology
For our analysis, we gathered current metrics and data from various websites dedicated to providing information about celebrities, sports stars, philanthropic individuals, and wealth, which includes –
- Bloomberg Billionaires Index
- The Forbes Real Time Billionaires List
- The Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report
- Celebrity Net Worth
- The Richest
- Wealthy Gorilla, and many more.
The 11 Richest People in South Carolina
In the narrative that follows, we take a deep dive into the top 10 richest people in South Carolina and how the ways in which they have amassed their incredible fortunes.
11. Ricky Sapp – Net Worth – $1 – 2 Million
Our curated list of the richest people in South Carolina begins with a former football player who is best known for his defensive athletic prowess on the gridiron fields of the New York Jets and Houston Texans. Ricky Sapp was born in 1986 in Columbia, South Carolina, and played college ball at Clemson (even starting as a true freshman) before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles as an outside linebacker during the 2010 NFL Draft. Rivals.com.
Ricky Sapp a five-star recruit, and as a draft prospect, Sapp was considered the number one defensive end prospect in the nation coming out of college. He had success as a professional football player until a knee injury sidelined him and required surgery.
10. Monique Coleman – Net Worth – $2 Million
Adrienne Monique Coleman is an actress who was born in Orangeburg, SC. She knew at a young age as she was trained at the Workshop Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts. If you used to be a fan of High School Musical movies, you probably understand Taylor McKessie’s references, although her first role as a lead actress was in an independent film in the 1990s. Apart from starring in High School Musical movies, Monique Coleman participated in ABC’s Dancing With The Stars and had the role of Mary Margret in, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” Movie. Monique Coleman was recently given the opportunity to start her own talk show called “Gimme Mo,” which aims to empower young people.
Monique Coleman’s other guest T.V. appearances include Boston Public, Strong Medicine, 10-8: Officers on Duty, Married to the Kellys, Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, and Veronica Mars. Monique Coleman was honored by the NAACP Image Awards for her role alongside James Earl Jones in the Hallmark TV Movie The Reading Room with a 2006 CAMIE Award for the role.
9. Logan Marshall Green Net Worth – $5 – 7 Million
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Logan Marshall-Green is a popular actor known for acting in hit series like The O.C., Upgrade, Devil, Prometheus, Traveler, Dark Blue, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Logan, who has a twin brother, Taylor, was raised in Rhode Island by his mom, who taught acting at nearby Brown University. Logan Marshall Green’s undergraduate work was at UT Knoxville, and he then earned his graduate fine arts degree from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU in New York City.
In addition to T.V. and movies, Green has performed in a Public Theatre production of King Lear and Pig Farm. In 2019 Logan Marshall Green made a directorial debut with Adopt a Highway. Other television credits include Law and Order, Big Sky, and more.
8. Tommy Gainey Jr. Net Worth – $7 million
Thomas Dale Gainey, Jr. is a professional American golfer who was born in Darlington, South Carolina, in 1975. Gaines, who now lives in Bishopville, South Carolina, is among the most famous PGA tour golfers and is known by the nickname Two Gloves – because he wears gloves on both hands and his golf game was defined by a unique golf swing – the very rare baseball grip on full shots. Before deciding to become a professional golfer, Gainey worked wrapping insulation around hot water heaters on an assembly line in South Carolina.
Thomas Gainey has won multiple events over the course of his professional golf career. His first and only PGA tour was the McGladrey Classic in 2012, where he won by one stroke. Thomas Gainey’s highest professional ranking as a professional golfer was in 2011, when he was ranked as the 84th best golfer in the world.
7. Jay Wayne Jenkins “Young Jeezy” Net Worth – $10 Million
Young Jeezy was born in 1977 in Columbia, South Carolina, but he also spent his childhood in many locations in Georgia. Young Jeezy dominated the music scene in the 2000s as one of the most popular rappers. His raspy vocal style set him apart from other rappers at the time, which contributed to the success of his 2005 debut album. Jenkins has been credited with co-pioneering a subgenre of hip-hop called trap music. His career began in 2001, and he has released many albums since, selling millions of records globally.
Most of Jeezy’s earnings come from his rap career; however, he has also dabbled in acting. In 2020, Jeezy became an executive/advisor to Def Jam’s CEO, Jeffrey Harleston. Additionally, Jenkins owns a branding company entitled Agency 99, which offers Naud Spirits, Defiance Fuel, and more.
6. Viola Davis Net Worth – $25 Million
Viola Davis is a successful producer and actress who has been in the film and television industry for over two decades. She is honored to be awarded the EGOT – an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. Viola Davis has starred in several blockbuster movies, including Suicide Squad and The Help and Prisoners.
Viola Davis is the co-owner of JuVee Production Company with her husband, who provides creative opportunities for next-gen artists/filmmakers. Viola Davis is well known as a human rights and equal rights advocate and even received her star of the Walk of Fame in 2017. Viola Davis has made philanthropic donations to the public library in the town where she was educated – Central Falls, Rhode Island, at a time when funding threatened to close the library permanently.
5. Chris Rock – Net Worth – $60 Million
Chris Rock, who was born in Andrews, South Carolina, has been in the entertainment business for nearly 40 years. His entertainment career spans many decades and facets of the business, including standup comedy, huge hit movies, comedy albums, comedy specials, and more. Rock owns several homes and spends his time on both coasts. Chris Rock, a Golden Globe, Grammy, Emmy, and American Comedy Award winner, began in 1984 at New York City’s Catch a Rising Star comedy club, which got the crew’s attention from Saturday Night Live.
Chris Rock, who ranks among the list of millionaires in South Carolina, has been hugely successful, reportedly earning upward of $30 million in 2017 and more than $40 million two years later. Before his divorce, it was estimated that his net worth exceeded $100 million. However, when the dust settled from the divorce and his 20-year marriage was over, it would cost him a reported $40 million to settle.
4. John C. Portman, Jr. – $1.1 Billion
John Calvin Portman, Jr. is a renowned architect famous for his amazing multi-structured interiors within office buildings and hotels. Portman was born in Walhalla, South Carolina, and he held an architecture degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. John Portman’s professional portfolio includes global projects; however, his most famous project is Portman’s iconic beach house. This was where Portman converted the home to an art museum – a platform to display his best work.
John C. Portman is one of the richest American architects. Portman used a clever combination of architecture and design that created the legend that still lives as one of the world’s most sought-after technicians.
3. Anita Zucker – Net Worth $1.9 Billion
Anita Zucker was born Anita Goldberg to Holocaust Survivors and is currently listed as one of the richest people in South Carolina. Anita Zucker was once the chair of the Hudson Bay Company but took over the reins of South Carolina-based InterTech Group, a manufacturer of chemicals, after her husband and high-school sweetheart died in 2008. InterTech has estimated revenues of over $3 billion, contributing considerably to Ms. Zucker’s wealth.
In addition, Anita Zucker owns the Carolina Ice Palace and is a co-owner of the South Carolina Stingrays ice hockey team. In 2023, Anita Zucker was ranked as the 1,600th richest person in the world. Zucker is quite philanthropic, donating millions to many causes and schools, including The Citadel, The Trident Way, the Jewish Endowment Fund, and Coastal Community Foundation.
2. Darla Moore – Net Worth $2.3 Billion
Coming in at 2nd place among the wealthiest families in South Carolina is Darla Moore, who has many residences, including two in South Carolina – Lake City and Charleston. Darla Moore who holds an MBA from G.W. University and an undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina, whose business school has been named to honor Darla Moore after a record-breaking gift to the school. Moore has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business, serving on boards including Omnimedia and Martha Stewart Living, etc.
Darla Moore is the former president of the private investment firm – Rainwater Inc., a managing director of Chemical Bank (before its merger), and a JP Morgan advisor. A decade ago, Darla Moore and Condoleezza Rice (former U.S. Secretary of State) became the only two women to be Augusta National Golf Club members – an honor befitting Ms. Moore. Additionally, Darla Moore was the first woman to be profiled on the cover of Fortune.
1. Robert Alan Faith – Net Worth – $5.8 Billion
Bob Faith, who lives in Charleston, grew up in Oklahoma, with his original professional goal to follow in his father’s footsteps in the oil industry. However, plans changed when the oil crisis of the 1970s hit, so he opted for an MBA degree from none other than Harvard University. Bob Faith is the founder and CEO of the global real estate firm Greystar, which is hugely active in property and investment management and real estate development services. In 2018, Faith appeared on the Observer list of the 59 most powerful people in residential real estate.
According to Forbes, Robert Alan Faith has a net worth that has put him on the Forbes 400 list at #182 and at the top of the richest people in South Carolina. In 2021, Bob Faith’s Greystar became the largest operator of apartments in the U.S., with $45.1 billion of assets currently being managed by the company.