plutocrat

This term carries a strong pejorative connotation, suggesting that political influence is bought rather than earned through merit or democratic mandate. It evokes an image of an elite class that leverages financial dominance to manipulate legislation and social structures for their own benefit.

While a millionaire or billionaire describes a state of wealth, a plutocrat describes the exercise of power resulting from that wealth. It is most frequently used in political science and critical social commentary to describe systemic inequality and the corruption of governance.