elites
n. countablen. small groups of people who have the most power, money, or influence in a society. They are often seen as being separate from or better than everyone else.
n. select groups of people who possess disproportionate wealth, social status, or political influence. Often used in political discourse to describe those who control the major institutions of a society.
The political elites often meet behind closed doors.
Many voters felt that the country's economic elites were out of touch with the struggles of ordinary families.
The revolution was driven by a deep-seated resentment toward the ruling elites, whose control over the nation's resources had remained unchallenged for decades.
Usually used in the plural to refer to the group as a whole; the singular form can describe a specific high-status group or an individual member.