plutocrat

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   someone who exercises power by virtue of wealth

   Although the citizenry has the right to vote, plutocrats are the actual rulers.

2. 2
   noun

   Someone who rules by virtue of his or her wealth.

   Near-synonym: oligarch

Etymology

From pluto- + -crat, after plutocracy, from Ancient Greek πλοῦτος (ploûtos, “wealth, riches”) + κράτος (krátos, “power, might”).