Robert L. Faith is an American billionaire businessman and real estate developer, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised there. He initially pursued petroleum engineering, earning a degree from the University of Oklahoma, before obtaining an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1986 amid a downturn in the oil industry. His real estate career began at Trammell Crow Company, where he became a partner, followed by co-founding Starwood Capital Group in 1991. In 1993, he founded Greystar (also known as Greystone in some contexts), a global real estate firm specializing in the investment, development, and management of rental housing properties, initially in Houston, Texas, before relocating its headquarters and his residence to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1998. Under his leadership as founder, chairman, and CEO, Greystar has grown into one of the world's largest apartment managers, with a portfolio managing hundreds of billions of dollars in real estate across five continents, including commercial, residential, and investment properties focused on the Southeast United States and beyond. The company, established in 1987 or 1993, has become one of the largest real estate firms in South Carolina, completing numerous significant projects such as office buildings, retail centers, and multifamily housing, contributing to economic growth in the region. Faith's financial success has placed him on Forbes' lists; in 2024 and 2025, he was named the richest person in South Carolina, with an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion and $5 billion, respectively.

Beyond business, Faith has been active in public service and politics. He served as South Carolina Secretary of Commerce from 2002 to 2006 under Governor Mark Sanford, where he reorganized the state's commerce department. A major supporter of Republican candidates and conservative economic policies, including tax reform, business deregulation, and economic development, he has contributed to figures such as Mark Sanford, Henry McMaster, and was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020 to the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. His philanthropy extends to education and community organizations. Faith resides in Charleston (previously Columbia) with his family, including his wife, interior designer Muffie Faith, and their three children, maintaining a relatively private personal life.

While Faith's career is marked by success and stability, he has faced standard industry scrutiny, including occasional regulatory reviews typical for large developers, but no major legal controversies are publicly documented. His role underscores the intersection of real estate, politics, and economic power in the American South.