Can one achieve elite status without wealth?
Absolutely. AOC became an elite before she became wealthy. Same for J. K. Rowling and most academics at the top of their fields.
0: https://president.columbia.edu/news/hillary-rodham-clinton-j....
Every one that achieves cultural relevance or an administrative post absolutely is. Some of those are born into it. Most are not.
You’re still confusing wealth with power. Plenty of people who never need work again are not elites, e.g. Steve Wozniak. And plenty of elites don’t have enough saved to survive extended periods of not working, e.g. many in television or politics.
> don't know too many university presidents / deans / provosts who personally control enough wealth to have the power to change the direction of their society
Larry Summers.
They don’t wield wealth as power. They wield influence. Same as how a U.S. Senator need not be wealthy to be powerful; if anything, they wield their power to produce wealth.