Which class in Rome inherited their status? Answer is aristocrats

There were four classes of people in Rome: the aristocrats, the equestrians, the common citizens, and the slaves. The aristocrat class was composed of about three hundred families, mostly senators, who inherited status. The equestrians were merchants, government builders, and bankers who charged high rates of interest. The common citizens included farmers, industrial workers, and the city mob, which numbered hundreds of thousands. Slaves were worked hard during their prime and were usually released in their old age. Some slaves were trained to be gladiators for the people's amusement. Other slaves worked in rich homes as doorkeepers, litter bearers, messengers, or servants. Some Greek slaves were teachers.