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Hmmmm. I tend to agree that the word is "elitism". Not "The elite", as a specific demographic. Many see themselves a elite, socioeconomic status aside. Many who are not landed and wealthy, but have attained high education exude elitism, many who are landed and wealthy, but are dumber than a bag of hammers, see themselves as being "elite". These latter are more born into wealth, not by personal initiative.
So, as an American thing, elite is more a state of mind, rather than a societal station. Within America, there are many many people, who will spit tobacco juice on a Rockefellers Italian shoes, without a care to wealth and station, and the same ...courtesy..would be extended to an arrogant , educated type. This being a fairly common opinion of "royalty" within American general society. No respect, I tell ya. Lol
I'd qualify your open:
Elitism = the 'class'
Elites = a certain group of individuals from the class
In the current election cycle, we keep hearing about the “elites.” Simple question:
Who are these “elites?”
Are they people who live in a certain part of the country?
Are they those with a college education?
Are they people who make a certain amount of money? 50k? 75k? Over 100k?
Please, please avoid foolish answers like “Obama, Clinton, and their friends.” That’s a brain dead, useless answer.
Provide a DEMOGRAPHIC DEFINITION only.
"Elites" , to me, refers to people with a net worth of over ~$100 million or so who use that money to influence national elections.
This group (whatever you want to call them) doesn't just spend money on politicians, they also pour money into molding public opinion. They buy television networks, newspapers, and they fund think tanks and academia to encourage a particular ideology.
In a sense, they work behind the scenes to help promote their version of "the facts". And I don't mean the blatantly partisan outlets like Fox News vs. MSNBC, I mean supposedly-neutral think tanks like The Mercatus Center, Hoover Institution, Brookings Institution, or the American Enterprise Institute; or innocuous-sounding investment newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, or Barron's.
"Elites" , to me, refers to people with a net worth of over ~$100 million or so who use that money to influence national elections.
This group (whatever you want to call them) doesn't just spend money on politicians, they also pour money into molding public opinion. They buy television networks, newspapers, and they fund think tanks and academia to encourage a particular ideology.
In a sense, they work behind the scenes to help promote their version of "the facts". And I don't mean the blatantly partisan outlets like Fox News vs. MSNBC, I mean supposedly-neutral think tanks like The Mercatus Center, Hoover Institution, Brookings Institution, or the American Enterprise Institute; or innocuous-sounding investment newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, or Barron's.
There are probably some Elites who have quite a bit less than $100 million in net worth, BUT who have got quite a bit of power and influence of alternate varieties. (Think of the Obamas or even the Clintons, who are not at the $100 million level.....yet).
Conversely, there may be a few of the super rich who don't really get involved in very much. They just invest their money, take in the profits, but aren't very active in society.
I approve the above message. (signed) Adolf Hitler
I assume you didn't like him mentioning Jews as part of the elite. Are you disputing the fact that Jewish people are disproportionately highly represented in government, the media, Academia and the upper echelons of big business?
Note that pointing out disproportionality is different from saying a group "runs" or "rules" something.
To me, the term elite invokes an image of snobbery, of someone that thinks they are better than everyone else because of either their financial, professional, or social status. I don't know that you can put an actual monetary amount on it.
Some people seem to think that anyone that has more than they do is elite, and many think that those people were just handed what they have. It bothers me that in this day and age some people just can't fathom that some people have actually worked hard to have what they do.
There probably is a definition of what elite really is, but I don't think everyone fits into that mold.
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I tend to agree that the word is "elitism". Not "The elite", as a specific demographic. Many see themselves a elite, socioeconomic status aside. Many who are not landed and wealthy, but have attained high education exude elitism, many who are landed and wealthy, but are dumber than a bag of hammers, see themselves as being "elite". These latter are more born into wealth, not by personal initiative. 
