He is best known for building his international construction company, Harbert Corporation, into one of the world's largest, along with creating a personal wealth of well over $1.7 billion.
In metro Birmingham, Harbert's best known projects include the Elton B. Stephens Expressway (also called the Red Mountain Expressway, U.S. Highway 280), the Riverchase planned community, the accompanying Riverchase Galleria, the state's largest shopping center, and the Regions-Harbert Plaza.
A lengthy section of Interstate 459, the belt highway around the south side of metro Birmingham, is named for Harbert.
Harbert was a noted philanthropist, with numerous contributions to Auburn University and to Birmingham-Southern College, where a building bears his wife's name.
His company continues to this day under the leadership of his son Raymond and operates under the name Harbert Management Corporation.