The first rule of the AmEx Centurion Card is: You do not talk about the AmEx Centurion Card. Also known colloquially as the Black Card, Centurion membership is so exclusive that American Express will not even officially confirm any of its perks, nor what it takes to be invited to apply. That’s right, you must receive a formal invitation just to apply.
“It’s our long-standing policy not to share the details of our Centurion Membership,” is all the detail on the card that the issuer will divulge.
Commenting on the card publicly, posting about it on social media, or even just flashing it around are all apparently frowned upon. 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. We managed to speak to a few of them for the inside scoop on how you can get your hands on one and the VIP treatment you can expect once you do.
An application algorithm
American Express remains absolutely silent on the requirements for a Centurion Card invitation. However, card members we spoke with believe the issuer uses a secret algorithm more closely guarded than the Coca-Cola recipe to winnow potential candidates. There is also likely a team of advisers who conduct background checks and handpick each invitee.
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). It takes more than simply hitting the raw numbers, though. According to a cardholder we spoke with who requested anonymity, AmEx also analyzes candidates' spending and prioritizes those whose purchases tend to be in specific categories like luxury goods, dining, events, and travel. It is also thought to help your chances if a current Centurion Card member personally recommends you.
According to one Business Centurion Card holder who was willing to speak on the record, founder and CEO of The Points Guy, Brian Kelly, you might have luck just calling up and asking for the chance to apply. According to Kelly, his business was regularly spending upwards of $1 million per year on the company’s AmEx Business Platinum Card account. Noting that activity, he phoned American Express to ask about opening a Business Centurion account, and received an invitation two months later.
If you are accepted, expect to pay. A lot. New cardholders are subject to a one-time $10,000 initiation fee plus an annual fee of $5,000 just for the privilege of keeping the card in their wallet. Additional cards for authorized users are $5,000 each, and you can only add up to two of them per account.
Welcome to the elite ranks
That price tag might be worth it, though, considering just how many exclusive perks carrying the Centurion Card confers. Among the most outstanding: Members receive automatic Delta Platinum Medallion elite status, which normally requires flying 75,000 miles and spending $9,000 with the airline each year, plus mid-level Marriott Bonvoy Gold and IHG Rewards Club Platinum status, and top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status with perks like upgrades and free breakfast during stays.
