The Four Hundred

The Four Hundred was a small, elite group of wealthy and influential individuals in New York City during the late 19th century, believed to represent the social upper class. The term originated from the idea that only around 400 people could fit into the fashionable homes of Manhattan’s social scene, reflecting exclusivity and social status. This group often dictated social, economic, and cultural trends, symbolizing the concentration of wealth and power among a select few during that era. Over time, the phrase came to embody notions of privilege and societal hierarchy among the city’s upper echelon.