oligarch
Wealthy political insider
An oligarch is a member of a small group that holds power in a government or organization.
The term derives from oligarchy, a form of government where power rests with a few.
In contemporary usage, oligarch most often refers to extremely wealthy individuals, especially Russian businessmen who acquired vast fortunes during the privatization of state assets after the Soviet collapse.
Sanctions targeted oligarchs close to the Kremlin.
The word carries connotations of ill-gotten wealth and corrupt political influence.
Person worth ten figures
- plutocratRuler through wealth
- tycoonDominant industrial leader
- mogulInfluential industry leader
- magnateWealthy business leader
industrialist · financier · baron · capitalist · kleptocrat · robber-baron · conglomerate · monopolist
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
graft · looting · kleptocracy · plundering · self-dealing · misappropriation · collusion · racketeering
Sole wielder of power
- strongmanPowerful lifter or despot
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- power-brokerInfluential political dealmaker
- KremlinMoscow's fortified government seat
patronage · crony · apparatchik · connected · untouchable · impunity · entourage · loyalist
Person of noble birth
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- privilegedHaving special advantages
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
establishment · jet-set · superyacht · penthouse · luxury · opulence · extravagance · entitlement
Korean family-run corporate groups
- robber-baronUnscrupulous wealthy capitalist
- post-SovietAfter 1991 dissolution
- privatizationState sells public assets
- perestroikaSoviet reform initiative
billionaire
Person worth ten figures
magnate · industrialist · financier · baron · capitalist · kleptocrat · robber-baron · conglomerate · monopolist · profiteer
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
cronyism · graft · looting · kleptocracy · plundering · self-dealing · misappropriation · collusion · racketeering · extortion
autocrat
Sole wielder of power
- strongmanPowerful lifter or despot
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- power-brokerInfluential political dealmaker
Kremlin · patronage · crony · apparatchik · connected · untouchable · impunity · entourage · loyalist · protégé
aristocrat
Person of noble birth
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- privilegedHaving special advantages
- exclusiveLimited to one group
dynasty · establishment · jet-set · superyacht · penthouse · luxury · opulence · extravagance · entitlement
chaebols
Korean family-run corporate groups
- robber-baronUnscrupulous wealthy capitalist
- post-SovietAfter 1991 dissolution
- privatizationState sells public assets
- bigwigsbigwig, big shot, big wig, VIP, big kahuna
- business mogulstycoon, mogul, magnate, billionaire, titan
- fat catstycoon, mogul, magnate, plutocrat, billionaire
- social rankstatus, rank, nobility, class, peerage
- upper classaristocrat, nobles, baron, baroness, baronet
- Wealthyrich, wealthy, affluent, affluence, wealth
oligarchdemocrat
Advocate for popular rule
commoner · democrats · populist · egalitarian · man of the people
oligarchpauper
Person in extreme poverty
poor person · have-not · beggar · peasant · proletarian
oligarchpublic servant
Government worker serving citizens
elected official · representative · tribune · steward · civil servant
- Russian oligarchWealthy, politically connected businessman