A plutocrat is a person who holds significant wealth and uses that wealth to influence political decisions and policies. The term often refers to individuals or families whose financial power allows them to exert control over government actions, sometimes prioritizing their interests over the public good. Plutocracy, the system where wealth determines power, can lead to economic inequality and social unrest. In history, figures like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie are often cited as examples of plutocrats, as their immense fortunes allowed them to shape industries and politics during the Gilded Age in the United States.