bigwigs
Those in charge
Bigwigs are important or influential people, especially those in positions of power: The corporate bigwigs flew in for the meeting.
The term carries a slightly mocking tone, suggesting the people in question may be pompous or out of touch.
It derives from the large wigs once worn by people of high rank.
Titled nobles, lowest rank
- kingpinsDominant figures in organizations
- titansDominant powerful figures
- heavyweightsDominant figures in domain
- bossesManagers or raised studs
dons · rainmakers · dealmakers · wheeler-dealers · fat-cats · moneybags · financiers · industrialists
Senior corporate officers
- directorsThose who lead organizations
- chairmenLeaders of boards
- presidentsMultiple heads of state
- vice-presidentsSecond-ranking executive officers
CEOs · CFOs · admirals · generals · senators · ambassadors · judges · chancellors
Hereditary ruling class
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
- plutocratsRulers through financial power
bluebloods · nobility · patricians · socialites · jet-setters · upper-crust · establishment · one-percenters
Distinguished influential people
- dignitariesPersons of high rank
- notablesDistinguished persons collectively
- eminencesPersons of high rank
- grandeesPersons of eminence
VIPs · brass · higher-ups · muckety-mucks · pooh-bahs · top-brass · nabobs · worthies
barons
Titled nobles, lowest rank
- kingpinsDominant figures in organizations
- titansDominant powerful figures
- heavyweightsDominant figures in domain
bosses · dons · rainmakers · dealmakers · wheeler-dealers · fat-cats · moneybags · financiers · industrialists · robber-barons
executives
Senior corporate officers
- directorsThose who lead organizations
- chairmenLeaders of boards
- presidentsMultiple heads of state
vice-presidents · CEOs · CFOs · admirals · generals · senators · ambassadors · judges · chancellors · deans
aristocrats
Hereditary ruling class
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
plutocrats · bluebloods · nobility · patricians · socialites · jet-setters · upper-crust · establishment · one-percenters · power-brokers
luminaries
Distinguished influential people
- dignitariesPersons of high rank
- notablesDistinguished persons collectively
- eminencesPersons of high rank
grandees · VIPs · brass · higher-ups · muckety-mucks · pooh-bahs · top-brass · nabobs · worthies
- eliteselites, plutocrats, oligarchs, aristocrats, blue bloods
- VIPscelebrities, superstars, head of state, stars, legend
- authoritiesrulers, ruler, leaders, leader, officials
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
- military brassgenerals, admirals, colonels, majors, captains
- prominencesprotuberance, protrusion, bulge, bump, swelling
bigwigsnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
small fry · rank-and-file · peons · underlings · little people