Youâre right ; âthe most influentialâ and âthe most fashionableâ both mean âpeopleâ, and this is understood. Both are noun phrases, consisting of a noun âpeopleâ [understood, though not stated], an adjective [influential, fashionable] and an adverb [most]. âThe richâ is similar, but in this case we donât think of âpeopleâ as a missing word because the phrase âthe richâ has become well established.