What is a black card? The credit card most associated with the phrase “black card” is the Centurion® Card from American Express, or the “Amex Black Card.” It was released in 1999 and created such a buzz that other card issuers wanted to create their own deluxe credit cards to reward their highest-spending customers.
The Mastercard® Black Card's minimum credit limit is $5,000. Given that the Mastercard Black Card is advertised as a “luxury” card and charges an annual fee of $495, applicants may assume it will have a high limit. That may or may not prove true, depending on the applicant's credit history, income and potential debt.
The highest credit card color is black, in large part because of the ultra-exclusive Centurion® Card from American Express, which is also known as the “Black Card” due to its color.
But there are a number of other cards that offer what the Mastercard Black Card does at the same price point or less. And, like most credit cards, anyone can apply for the Mastercard Luxury Black Card without waiting for an invitation, which gives this card far less prestige than the Centurion Black card.
The Black Card has a hefty $10,000 initiation fee, a $5,000 annual fee, and offers many travel perks. The Platinum Card has a $695 annual fee with many travel-related perks, and cardholders can earn points for every dollar spent. Besides the Black and Platinum Cards, American Express offers a line of 17 other cards.
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.
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.
Generally, a card issuer invites only their most loyal customers who spend upwards of six-figures or more a year to become a black cardholder.
Global pop stars Jungkook and Jin of BTS are also reportedly black card holders. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted Jin flashing his black card as he paid for the meals at member Suga's birthday celebration, treating all members of BTS and their staff.
Gold credit cards are a step up from standard cards; platinum credit cards are typically above gold, and black credit cards sit at the top of the pack. This means the specific features and benefits vary based on whether a card is a gold, platinum or black option.
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.
Read our editorial standards. The Amex Centurion "black" card makes other premium credit cards look downright affordable. It has an initiation fee of $10,000 and an annual fee of $5,000. It's also invite-only; you can't apply without permission from Amex.
Visa Infinite is the highest tier you can get and comes with all of the benefits from Traditional and Signature. Many of the Visa Infinite perks offer higher levels of protection compared to the Visa Signature version of the benefits.
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.
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.
No, the Visa Black Card doesn't exist anymore. The offer changed card networks and rebranded from Visa to Mastercard back in 2016. Only the rebranded version of the card – now the Mastercard® Black Card – is available to new applicants.
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.
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.
Like the Business Platinum the card earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
EDITOR'S OVERVIEW. The Platinum Card® from American Express is the winner over the Mastercard® Black Card. The American Express Platinum card provides frequent travelers with far better features and much more value overall, despite its higher annual fee.