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.
Black cards are a status symbol that are typically invite-only and reserved for big spenders who can afford to pay initiation fees and annual fees totaling thousands of dollars. But the invitation-only requirement has changed slightly for the oldest “black card” — the Centurion® Card from American Express.
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.
American Express Centurion Black Cards are invitation only, which means you can't apply directly for the credit card.
How much do you have to make to get Amex's black card? There aren't any income requirements per se, but you most likely need to be a high spender on your Amex cards. If you're in the ballpark of $250,000 to $500,000 in annual spending across all your open Amex cards, you may qualify for the Centurion card.
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. The card offers some incredible benefits, like complimentary elite status across four hotel chains and with Delta, airport arrival services, and access to a concierge.
There are around 20,000 Black cardholders in the U.S. This is a no-limit credit card. Cardholders are excepted on an 'invitation-only basis.
There are very high spending requirements to get a black card. 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.
The highest level American Express card is the Centurion card, which is also known as the 'black card.
Person Income/Business Income
We recommend that your annual income be at least $50,000 or higher before applying for the Amex Platinum.
Well, the verdict is in! The Centurion card beats out the Mastercard Black card in terms of rewards, benefits, and features. The major drawback of the Centurion card is its $10,000 initiation fee and $5,000 annual fee (plus $5,000 annually for each authorized user).
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.
Receive an Initial Credit Limit of $20,000 to $25,000
Because cardholders generally have a much higher income (or at least the ability to pay back their cards), the card's customers are usually given a very high initial credit limit.
The Centurion Card is often referred to as “the Black Card,” and it's invitation-only. According to this, the average Centurion reader (and therefore average Amex Centurion cardmember): Has a net worth of $11.4 million.
There's an initiation fee of $10,000, along with an annual fee of $5,000. This means that you're looking at a tab of $15,000 — between the initiation fee and the first-year annual fee — before you can even start using your card. You'll pay $5,000 for an additional cardholder, and you're only allowed to add two.
The credit card billionaires are most likely to use is the Centurion® Card from American Express, also known as the Amex Black Card, which has unique benefits and is reserved for high-net-worth individuals. Some of the rich and famous people rumored to have the card include Jerry Seinfeld and Halle Berry.
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.
Credit cards offer generous rewards for routine spending -- especially for wealthy people, who typically qualify for the best rewards cards. Most rich people don't squander an opportunity to get free money, even if they already have plenty. They take advantage of rewards cards to get cash back or earn free travel.
The Amex Platinum is one of the most prestigious travel credit cards you can own. Trying for an American Express credit card lets you establish a relationship with Amex. Plus, it can make it easier to add the Amex Platinum Card to your wallet in the near future.
Yes, it is hard to get the American Express Platinum card because applicants need a 700+ credit score and a high income to qualify for approval. But if you have good or excellent credit and make a lot of money, you have a good shot.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a high-end card that is packed with benefits and a hefty welcome offer.