The card considered "higher" or more exclusive than the American Express Platinum Card is the invitation-only American Express Centurion Card, famously known as the "Black Card," reserved for high-net-worth clients with significant spending on Platinum or Gold cards. While the Centurion is the pinnacle within Amex, other ultra-premium cards like J.P. Morgan Reserve and Dubai First Royale also sit in that elite tier, offering extreme luxury for the super-rich.
The American Express Centurion Card, colloquially known as the Black Card, is an exclusive invitation-only charge card issued by American Express. It is reserved for the company's wealthiest clients who meet certain net worth, credit quality, and spending requirements on its gateway card, the Platinum Card.
The four major credit card networks are Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover. Out of the four networks, two are also card issuers — Amex and Discover — which we explain more in the next section.
The hardest Amex card to get is the Centurion® Card from American Express. Also known as the “Black Card,” this Amex card is hard to get because it is available by invitation only, and potential candidates are rumored to need an annual income of at least $1 million.
The best credit card that is rumored to have a $100,000 credit limit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. While Chase does not publicly disclose the highest credit line available for the card, there are online reports of people getting around $100,000 in spending power, or even more.
The American Express Platinum Card® is for fairly rich people. A high income will help you afford this premium travel card's $895 annual fee.
For the ultra-rich, however, credit cards take on another dimension. Certain cards—like the Amex Centurion, JP Morgan Reserve, Dubai First Royale Mastercard, and Coutts World Silk Card—are considered more exclusive than others, and they're available only to high earners with ample assets.
Exclusive Amex Black Card benefits. The Amex Centurion Card isn't just a status symbol — it unlocks exclusive perks across travel, dining, and lifestyle. From complimentary hotel and airline elite status to personalized concierge services, Centurion cardholders enjoy access to benefits you won't find on any other card.
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Most Widely Used: Visa has the most credit cards in circulation (over 300 million). American Express cardholders spend the most, charging over $15,000 in purchases per year. Best Worldwide Credit Cards: Visa or Mastercard credit cards with no foreign transaction fee.
American Express Card Levels by Exclusivity
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Cardholders of the American Express Platinum Card® or any other type of Amex members, can try using the American Express Auto Purchasing Program, which connects you to dealers who accept American Express and let you charge $2,000 or more toward a car purchase on your Amex card.
The Platinum Card® is a luxury card with a lot of premium travel benefits for big spenders, including airport lounge access, gold status at major hotels, and hundreds of dollars in statement credits each year. It also comes with a luxury price tag of $895 per year.
100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points are generally worth $1,000 to $2,000 or more, depending on redemption; you get about 1 cent per point ($1,000 total) using the travel portal or gift cards, but can achieve 2 cents per point or higher ($2,000+) by transferring to airline/hotel partners for premium flights, yielding significantly more value, according to Bankrate and WalletHub and The Points Guy.
Oprah Winfrey is believed to be among its members, as well as Jay Z. In 2013, Kim Kardashian posted on Instagram that she used the exclusive card to pay for a meal at Panda Express. The “black card” reportedly doesn't have a spending limit, but only the world's wealthiest are invited to join this elite club.
Annual Fee and Terms apply. 18+, subject to status. Minimum income £35,000.
For him, money is just a resource that enables Reliance Industries to take risks for further growth. And the answer to the million-dollar question is Mukesh Ambani himself reveals that he never carries cash or credit cards in his pocket. According to Ambani, he always has someone nearby to pay his bills.
The credit limit you can expect for a $70,000 salary across all your credit cards could be as much as $14000 to $21000, or even higher in some cases, according to our research. The exact amount depends heavily on multiple factors, like your credit score and how many credit lines you have open.
Centurion® Card from American Express
Why it's one of the hardest cards to get: The hardest card to get is the American Express Centurion Card, 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.
Jeff Bezos has publicly acknowledged that he has had his credit card declined. In an interview, when asked about having a credit card denied, Bezos chuckled and said yes, it had happened to him.
The Amex Platinum card has been around since 1984, and in the realm of fancy credit cards, it's one of the fanciest, along with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Sure, the black cards are ultra-elite, but they also come with an ultra-elite annual fee of thousands of dollars.
Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
People who want more comprehensive travel protections
The Amex Gold isn't among the best cards with travel protections. For example, the rental car insurance* you get with the card is secondary, which means it only applies to expenses not covered by other insurance you have.