France is still very much an aristocracy. Niel did not come from the traditional path of the elites (Polytechnique Paris, Centrale, etc.). He was self taught,

France is still very much an aristocracy. Niel did not come from the traditional path of the elites (Polytechnique Paris, Centrale, etc.). He was self taught, and god forbid, earned money through minitel porn. The aristocracy considers him, well, gross.