Is there such thing as a wealthy/intelligent "aura"?

That's the best title I can come up with at the moment. :P I'm talking about the general feeling you get when you approach these people.

A couple years back I went to a college fair and I saw two people in a booth who took me by surprise. Just seeing them was a powerful feeling that shook the soul. They were bright, and they were shining. I would even go so far as to say it felt like I was experiencing something supernatural and what I was looking at was divine.

They were two men that radiated something unfamiliar, something I rarely, if ever saw. A moment later I realized the booth was Harvard University and it all clicked in place. I was seeing the height of wealth and intelligence and they ran together hand and hand. And most striking they looked genuinely happy. (not to say money makes people happy)

For a long time I attended a failing school and throughout that time I realized smart people had something about them that they didn't and only then did I realize it was wealth.

In terms of intelligence I consider myself above average, which is sadly considered "smart" in my area. I graduated salutatorian in my class, only behind an Asian immigrant and neither of us grew up in the area around the school, and this confirms my suspicions. Growing up in poverty places people a world away from achieving this state and no matter how hard they try they can never be the same as the wealthy.

I understand this is a sensitive topic because culturally we're conditioned out of comfort to believe money doesn't make people better. After all the U.S. spends more money than anyone on education (so I heard), and what are the results? Or could it be environment, or a case of a "bad gene pool". I would like your thoughts on the matter.

Most likely its something that comes through in body language.

These people that you consider to have this air about them, whether correctly or incorrectly derive a sense of value and confidence (maybe even feelings superiority) from their wealth and intelligence that most likely translates into certain stances/postures etc. that are interpreted in such a way.

EDIT: Whoops, didn't see how old this was...

People definitely can have an 'aura' about them, as far as body language and how they move and an image they project. However, it doesn't actually mean anything. If you wear glasses and talk in a British accent people will think you are a lot smarter than you really are.

If you get a really smooth talking con man, he could be penniless and project an aura of being wealthy. If you are a good actor, and dress the part you can do the same. Simply changing clothing can change people's impressions. That is why we dress up from job interviews and stuff.

If you spend a lot of time in place(a wealthy private school for example) you are going to pick up habits from the people around you and act more like them. However, a person can have many personalities types as well. Everyone is like that, we act differently with friends than with family, than with coworkers. Some people even speak different accents when they talk to different people(if they for example lived in one area then move and met an old friend).

You need to be aware however, that those sort of things are not always accurate. You could have an old habit that stays with you even as situations change for example. Or you can spend time with people outside your usual peer group. Also they can be faked. If you are doing it subconsciously you will probably be far less accurate than noticing and consciously thinking about them.