I don't think "old money" really "drives the country" in the US.
Although that is probably also a bit of an overstatement in Europe as well, this issue is really one of the major historical distinctions between the US and Europe.
oh I don't know America likes to think it doent have a class system but look at the Bushes old money also Bill Gates fits into this class where as say Larry Ellison doesn't
Just because there are old-money families doesn't mean they're a major part of the class system. Larry Ellison doesn't have fewer privileges than Bill Gates. The Clintons don't have fewer privileges than the Bushes.
Although that is probably also a bit of an overstatement in Europe as well, this issue is really one of the major historical distinctions between the US and Europe.