Ben Navarro is an American self-made billionaire, the founder of Sherman Financial Group, a financial services and debt collection empire. His financial acumen was honed during his early career as a Citigroup banker, where he gained deep expertise in credit markets and financial structuring.

Navarro’s life has been marked by a strong family legacy in sports and a fierce loyalty to his base in Charleston, South Carolina. His late father, Frank Navarro (d. 2021), was a highly respected Ivy League football coach and was famously the star of the Norman Rockwell painting, 'The Recruit,' injecting a strong, visible connection to American sport and ideals into the family's background. Ben’s commitment to Charleston is profound, demonstrated by his acquisition of major civic and real estate assets around the city.

Ben Navarro co-founded Sherman Financial Group in 1998 with Brett Hildebrand. The company was strategically built into a massive, diversified credit card and debt collection empire. Navarro’s core asset is the Las Vegas-based lender Credit One Bank, which he controls. Credit One became highly successful by focusing on a niche market: providing credit cards to low-credit borrowers who were often underserved by major banks.

His business model, while controversial due to its focus on subprime credit, has been immensely profitable, doling out over 18 million credit cards. In recent years, Navarro has deployed over $350 million of his fortune into acquiring and developing property around Charleston, South Carolina, including a stadium and historic hotel. This blend of high-volume financial services and structural real estate investment has cemented his status as a major regional billionaire and civic figure.

Ben Navarro is a highly active philanthropist, focusing his efforts on education and improving the performance of the local Charleston community. His giving is structural, often aimed at transforming public education.

His philanthropic work in Charleston is immense, supporting numerous initiatives aimed at improving the city's infrastructure and quality of life. His acquisition of local sports and civic properties is often framed as a commitment to the region's development. His daughter, Emma Navarro, is a top-ranked U.S. tennis player, providing a high-profile, successful dimension to the family's public image outside of finance.

Ben Navarro maintains the conservative, polished style of a successful American banker and financial executive. His attire is consistently formal, favoring tailored suits and a professional presentation that reflects the stability of his multi-billion dollar financial services empire. His aesthetic is one of quiet, grounded wealth.

Residing in Charleston, South Carolina, his luxury is the deep financial security that allows him to reshape the urban landscape of his chosen city. His wealth affords him private travel and the ability to indulge his interest in sports and local development. His ultimate status symbol is his control over a massive credit card operation and his visible role as a major patron of the Charleston community.