The status of it

Riding my bike to work this morning, I was thinking about how your status can change with more money, more fame, etc. Pretty basic. What struck me, though, was that I didn't know how to correctly refer to something or someone with more than one status...

As it turns, out, the answer was as interesting as one could hope.

Is it stati? Um, no, just like octopus is not octopi, this is not correct.
Is it states? Although this is a possibility, how do you pronounce it? And it is really not that interesting.
Is it... could it be... status?

Yes, but it gets pronounced differently. The 'u' becomes like in 'tune', as opposed to the usual sound, like 'tug'.

Very nice.

Now, I dare you to use the correct pronunciation in conversation with normal people, ie: those not entirely prone to self-aggrandizing pontification and snobbery, and tell me what happens. Do you get a flurry of applause and 'bravos', or a sneer and a dismissive snort for being a ponce? My guess is the latter.