The American Express Black Card's requirements are rumored to include being an Amex cardholder for at least a year, spending over $100,000 annually on American Express credit cards, and annual income of at least $1 million. You'll probably need to have an excellent credit score, too.
Although Amex doesn't publish requirements for the card—or its perks, for that matter—it typically extends black card invitations only to high earners who have spent and paid off between $350,000 and $500,000 across all of their American Express accounts in a calendar year.
Known simply as the “Black Card,” you need an invitation to get Amex Centurion. And only the super rich and famous can expect to get the call, as it's rumored that you must charge at least $1 million per year to an American Express credit card to even qualify.
Sorry, Black Cards Are By Invitation Only
Loyal American Express cardholders are likely the most commonly invited, a list that includes both long-time business and personal charge card customers. You can now request an invitation to apply.
There's no credit limit
The American Express Black Card doesn't have a pre-set spending limit, so cardholders can spend as much as they want every month. But that's only the case if they can afford it. The Centurion® Card from American Express is a charge card, so cardholders can't carry a balance.
According to Weiss, one of the most recommended cards for high-net-worth individuals is The Platinum Card® from American Express . While this card comes with a wide range of perks that make it seem too good to be true, it also comes with an annual fee of $695 (See Rates), which is higher than most other credit cards.
But we have it on good authority that celebrities including Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Jerry Seinfeld, who reportedly received the first-ever Black Card, all carry it. Collectively there are thought to be fewer than 20,000 AmEx Centurion cardholders around the world.
Cardholder benefits include airline status with Delta, broad airport lounge access that includes Priority Pass and American Express Centurion Lounges and an airline fee credit. You can also access an exclusive 24/7 concierge program and you'll receive automatic elite status with various hotel and rental car programs.
Key Takeaways. The Black Card is an exclusive charge card offered to high-net-worth individuals by invitation only. The Platinum Card is one tier lower. Prospective cardholders may apply online and must meet minimum eligibility requirements.
The highest level American Express card is the Centurion card, which is also known as the 'black card.
The Mastercard® Black Card™ is best for high-earning consumers with 720 - 850 credit who are looking for a luxury credit card. We recommend this card for those who want a credit card that affords them bragging rights, as this heavy metal black card can do just that.
Is the American Express Gold Card worth the annual fee? If you make use of the card's annual credits and you spend a lot on dining and groceries, the card can be well worth the $250 fee. If you're not maximizing the credits and bonus categories, another card could be a better choice.
Amex Platinum ultimately offers more value, though. For example, its benefits include airport lounge access, while the Amex Gold Card's perks do not. When it comes to ongoing rewards on purchases, Amex Platinum has a higher maximum earning rate and better travel rewards. But Amex Gold provides more everyday value.
American Express Platinum has no preset credit limit. That means the amount you can spend may change from month to month based on your usage of the card, credit history, income and more.
An American Express card is worth it for people with good or excellent credit scores who want to earn rewards on U.S. purchases that they'll pay for in full by the due date every month. An Amex card may also be worth it for people who want an introductory low-interest period in addition to rewards.
Gold credit cards have slightly higher income and credit history requirements than standard cards, but not as high as those of platinum or black cards. You also need to have a good credit history to apply for a gold credit card.
1. American Express Centurion Card. The American Express Centurion Card is the most exclusive credit card in the world and commonly known as the “Amex Black Card.” Launched in 1999, American Express has kept it in a shroud of uncertainty, giving it a very high level of status in the minds of consumers.
If you're planning to spend a lot of money AND you want the choice of redeeming for airfare or cash, go with the Gold Card. If you are mostly focused on redeeming points for airfare and don't plan to redeem for cash, the Black Card is probably best for you.
Some of the oldest players in the Credit Card space have long understood the use of branding Credit Cards as status symbols. The best among them Amex which built a multibillion dollar empire by telling its user they were special. And that their card symbolised this special status.
Credit bureaus suggest that five or more accounts — which can be a mix of cards and loans — is a reasonable number to build toward over time. Having very few accounts can make it hard for scoring models to render a score for you.
Both Taeyang and G-Dragon are two of the richest idols in the industry, with their popularity spanning across the world. G-Dragon, as a matter of fact, is one of the richet people in the world right now. Both these idols own the black card and it really comes as no surprise, knowing their net worth and global impact.
In a 2018 episode of the Netflix show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld, who appeared in American Express commercials in the 1990s, claimed to have received the first Centurion card after contacting the company's president about the rumored existence of an exclusive black card.
It's been 21 years since Amex launched the original black card, and card issuers are increasingly offering more and more luxury perks at a more accessible price point to a larger portion of their customers. The biggest draw of elite rewards cards are the many travel benefits they offer.
The highest credit card limit you can get is over $100,000 according to anecdotes from credit card holders. But like most credit cards in general, even the highest-limit credit cards will only list minimum spending limits in their terms. The best high limit credit cards offer spending limits of $10,000 or more.
The answer to which, at least at that moment in time, was a single, crisp $100 bill. It should be noted that the next question Gates answered was “Can I have a million dollars?”, which he tactfully answered by explaining he donates the bulk of his money to needy causes.