I think I have a better idea, than trump*, of what constitutes being an 'elite' person
My Dad grew up dirt poor on the north end of Flint, MI. If they wanted meat on the table, they hunted squirrel. Mom's family was maybe one step up the financial ladder, but there were 8 kids in the family, so her parents had to be very resourceful.
Dad worked hard at school, joined the Marines so that he could get the GI Bill for college. He got a B.A. in education, married his high school sweetheart and then found a job teaching and coaching football at a small, rural school. He didn't make much money.
He was recruited to an only slightly less rural school district where he remained, for almost 40 years, as a teacher, coach, athletic director and after getting his Masters, an assistant principal. He did such an amazing job that his name is pretty legendary in that town. The high school football field has been after him and he's been inducted into a number of sports halls of fame - nominated by people whose lives he had so positively influenced. When he died, the funeral home was packed with his former students/players, neighbors and co-workers from decades earlier, all with great stories about Dad.
I had a stay at home Mom who budgeted VERY carefully. She made a lot of our clothes and cooked everything from scratch. My parents sacrificed and lived as frugally as possible - Dad built 2 of their 3 homes and worked as a security guard during the summer school breaks. And they saved every cent they could so that they could provide for their children and have some money set aside for the future. Our summer vacations were camping trips. A trip to McDonalds was a BIG treat, and we all shared one bag of french fries.
Needless to say, my family was never rich. We never had the biggest house or particularly 'stylish' clothes. Every advancement Dad had in life was due to his hard work, hard earned qualifications and sterling character, not to mention the endless support from my Mom. He would have been appalled if his children had been in the 'deplorable' category. What was important to both parents was that their children be responsible, productive, loving, ethical and honorable human beings. I like to think they did a pretty good job.
IMHO, my Dad and Mom are pretty much the epitome of elite.