The privileges of a black card include upgrades and special permissions for rental cars and access to some of the most breathtaking hotel suites in hard-to-reach destinations. Black cards also offer dedicated concierge services, and some are even rumored to provide charter jet service.
Make at Least $250,000 in Purchases on Your Amex Cards
Although Amex doesn't publish a spending threshold to get invited, a solid rule of thumb is that you need to make at least $250,000 in annual purchases across all of your Amex cards.
Based on various sources, it appears that to be considered, you must be an existing American Express cardholder who regularly spends upward of $350,000 per year on your current AmEx cards, or around $500,000 if you want the business version of the card (yes, there's a business version, too).
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 credit score needed for the American Express Platinum is generally above 700. According to Credit Karma, the average score is 715. Although, several applicants with credit scores in the 600s have also been approved, even as low as 643.
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.
American Express Centurion Black Cards are invitation only, which means you can't apply directly for the credit card.
There is no spending limit with the Amex Black Card. However, balances must be paid off in full every month.
Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express (another high credit limit 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.
Key Takeaways:
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.
You have to be a private banking client of J.P. Morgan in order to qualify, and it's generally believed, though unconfirmed, that you need to have $10 million worth of assets managed by J.P. Morgan. This card is strictly by invitation only.
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.
When applying for the Amex Blue Card, try to have a good credit score, which is a FICO® Score of 670 or above. This is one of the easiest Membership Rewards cards to open, and even consumers with average credit scores have a decent chance of approval.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual card credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Although American Express doesn't specify any minimum credit score requirements, you'll need good credit (or better) to qualify, which means a FICO score of at least 670. A premium Amex card — say, the American Express Gold Card — likely requires a “very good” FICO score, somewhere in the range of 740 and above.
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.
Amex is so popular because it offers high-end credit cards with great rewards and luxury perks, which have become status symbols in popular culture over time.
On our list, the card with the highest reported limit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which some say offers a $100,000 limit. We've also seen an advertised maximum credit limit of $100,000 on the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®, a credit union rewards card.
The American Express Centurion Card, known informally as the Amex Black Card, is an invitation-only charge card issued by American Express. An invitation is extended to Platinum Card holders after they meet certain criteria. The Centurion Card comes in personal and business variants.
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).
The Platinum Card® from American Express is another exclusive credit card that millionaires tend to prefer. Also, this card isn't invitation-only.
Annual income of $100,000 or more. Aged 18 years or over.
Yes, the American Express Platinum card is considered a prestigious credit card, as it's geared for big spenders who travel often and can take advantage of the card's many benefits. New cardholders get 80,000 points for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, the card offers 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases.