oligarch
/ˈɒlɪɡɑːk
/noun
1A ruler in an oligarchy.The claim that the oligarchs privatized companies in order to strip their assets gets the logic backwards....
- When it came to dealing with the oligarchs, the government was generally unable to exercise much control.
- The dictatorship of transnational corporations, ruled by financial oligarchs, must be ended.
2(Especially in Russia) a very rich business leader with a great deal of political influence.We are starting to win back our country from the media, the oligarchs, the corrupt politicians....
- The dictatorship of transnational corporations, ruled by financial oligarchs, must be ended.
- By making their fortunes on the backs of common Russians, the oligarchs themselves are a pretty unsympathetic lot.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Greek oligarkhēs, from oligoi 'few' + arkhein 'to rule'.