a person of great influence, importance, or standing in a particular enterprise, field of business, etc.

a railroad magnate.

a person of eminence or distinction in any field

literary magnates.

a member of the former upper house in either the Polish or Hungarian parliament.

noun

lowly

noun

aristocrat , bigwig * , businessperson , capitalist , captain of industry , chief , figure , financier , industrialist , leader , lion * , merchant , mogul , name , noble , notable , peer , personage , plutocrat , tycoon , vip *notes:a magnate is a very wealthy , influential , or powerful person or businessperson , while a magnet is a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field , baron , bigwig , lord , nabob , nobleman , panjandrum , titan , tsar