Beautiful People... as defined by whom?

The ever authoritative Wikipedia classifies the term "beautiful people" as:

The term used to refer to those who closely follow trends in fashion, physical appearance, food, dining, wine, automobiles, and real estate, often at a considerable financial cost. Such people often mirror in appearance and consumer choices the characteristics and purchases of wealthy actors and actresses, models, or other celebrities. The term "beautiful people" originally referred to the musicians, actors and celebrities of the Californian "Flower Power" generation of the 1960s... ...Beautiful people usually enjoy an image-based and/or financially-based prestige which enhances their aura of success, power, and beauty.
Originally taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty

The reason for this random topic is due in part to a random discussion I had over the weekend, when I found myself, for the first time in my life no less, classified as "beautiful people."

Choking down that little morsel of opinion was rather difficult. I believe an actual physical gasp occurred immediately following the auditory response.

WHAT?!?

The person providing the comment meant it as a compliment. I despised it as one as well. Now, it wasn't her fault and I would never want her to feel guilty for offending via compliment because I know the context and the intentions of this person.

HOWEVER!

Although I want to be someone who is valued among his friends, and one who seeks the good in not only others, but himself as well, I would never contrive myself to be among the "beautiful people" of this world.

The way I see it, most "beautiful people" are not that beautiful at all. Now, intrinsically I believe there is good in every human being, but the "beautiful people" are so focused on fame or riches, vanity and look, that they lose sight of the inner beauty that is the human soul. I would consider myself to be some what of an expert on this sociology. I've spent years around some of the richest and most "beautiful" people in the world. You should see the lives these people lead. It ain't pretty!

On a more localized scale, some of those I interact with currently are all about "keeping up with the Jones's." They live their life based upon how they are perceived to their neighbors. They build fashionable homes and try to dictate every element of their lives on the outside which isn't commensurate with what really is going on inside. Their houses are usually in disarray, (and I don't mean dirty) and some don't even know it because they are blinded by the vanity of the world.

As the latter part of the Wikipedia definition suggests, the prestige is image-based or financially-based. I know I don't have the image, and although I'd love to have the finances, I want my prestige to be based on who I am and what I've done for others rather than some false sense of security.