They are only elites at lying,

I hear what you're saying. I like the objective perspective, as you would get from otherworld aliens, for the increased amount of information it provides. Owning and controlling most of the world kind of does make one some sort of 'elite', even if we object to it from our own perspective.

They succeeded. They accomplished it. We of course don't like it, but we literally have no say in the matter. To look at our response to it all demonstrates the level of control more than anything else. They control the people in our governments who manage us. They control most companies that provide us with goods and services. They control the sentiment of our society.

Sure, IF we all rose up at the same time we could overthrow them, but it doesn't happen. Enough of us do feel like that's needed, but we still don't. This is desirable when you're designing a society of subservients.