I’m just going to take issue with the definition of the word “elite”. To be honest, top 10% doesn’t really sound elite. Top 1% sounds more elite. Like championship compared to premier league, or world’s best armies or something.
Also, how do you measure richness? Is it disposable income or income earned? If you took on a big mortgage to ensure your wife and kids had a permanent roof over their heads, and that took up a large share of your [sole] income, would that make you rich? Even if you couldn’t afford to go on holidays, or drive anything but a beat up fourth hand car that you had to fix yourself?
I’m willing to bet you would not feel rich in that situation. Level maybe. Struggling possibly. Not rich.