Much of the population that composed the upper class consisted of aristocrats, ruling families, titled people, and religious hierarchs.
Political power was often in the hands of the landowners in many pre-industrial societies despite there being no legal barriers to land ownership for other social classes.
[5] In Great Britain and Ireland, the "upper class" traditionally comprised the landed gentry and the aristocracy of noble families with hereditary titles.
The vast majority of post-medieval aristocratic families originated in the merchant class and were ennobled between the 14th and 19th centuries while intermarrying with the old nobility and gentry.
[11][12][13] Successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, investment bankers, venture capitalists, heir to fortunes, celebrities, and a few number of professionals, are considered members of this class by contemporary sociologists, such as James Henslin or Dennis Gilbert.
The growth in billionaires took a dramatic leap since the early 1980s, when the average net worth of the individuals on the Forbes 400 list was $400 million.
Upper-class families... dominate corporate America and have a disproportionate influence over the nation's political, educational, religious, and other institutions.
[14][15][16] Alan Greenspan, former chair of the Federal Reserve, sees it as a problem for society, calling it a "very disturbing trend".