I was also thinking, surely most of the elites had the means and common sense to leave the country once the political tide turned against them, only to return a

I was also thinking, surely most of the elites had the means and common sense to leave the country once the political tide turned against them, only to return a generation of two later when things started returning to normal and I'm sure they didn't return empty handed both because they probably had capital stashed outside the country and also good connections and know-how to continue their business operations from elsewhere.