Etymology

one-percenter

Today it means: A member of the top one percent of a population by wealth, ability, etc. (same as the ninety-ninth percentile), especially in a society with high wealth inequality. Full definition →

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The story

From one percent + -er. After Thomas Edison, who wrote: "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." The motorcycling sense comes from a supposed statement made by the American Motorcycle Association in 1948 that 99% of motorcyclists are decent people enjoying a clean sport, and it is only 1% who are antisocial.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.