American Express Black Card Requirements
Q: What are the American Express Black card requirements?
A: The American Centurion black card qualifications (officially called the Centurion card) have changed slightly since it first came out in 1999, but they’ve always been strict nonetheless. Let’s take a look at what’s currently required in 2012 if you want to get this credit card:
The Annual Fee
When the card first came out, the annual fee was “only” $1,000. Less than ten years later, AmEx jacked up the annual fee all the way up to $2,500. In addition, they’ve now tacked on a $5,000 so-called “initiation fee” just to get the card! So as far as the fees go, previously it was a $1,000, but now you will need to cough up $7,500 up front.
The early Centurion cardmembers are lucky – some are rumored to still be paying a $1,000 annual fee. Why? Well, it’s a common practice in the credit card industry that sometimes, your annual fee is locked in when you get a card (future annual fee increases won’t apply to you). Now, I bet those early cardmembers are happy they got the card for “only” a thousand bucks, right?
The Exclusivity
The Amex black card has gone back and forth from being invite only to open application. Currently, it is back to being invite only, but I’m sure if you qualified and were willing to pay the fee, you could get them to give you one.
When the card first hit the scene, it was only issued it to a few thousand people (celebrities, business moguls, etc). Although the American Express black card requirements have grown tighter recently, that hasn’t stopped the cardmember base from ballooning.
According to to this creative detective work a couple years back about how many people have the Amex Black card, it’s now estimated that possibly up to 100,000 people worldwide have the card. It’s estimated that anywhere from 20 to 40% of those cardmembers are based in the United States.
Spending Requirements
The American Express black card qualifications including spending $250,000 in a given year on another AmEx card. That means you must have an existing AmEx card for one year or more, and spend (and pay off) at least $250,000 over the course of a year. Once you do that, you meet the spending requirement. There has been talk of increasing that requirement to 500,000 or even a $1M, plus requiring that amount to be spent every year. Personally, I think that’s a good idea if they want to keep it exclusive.
The Benefits
So you would think with such a drastic fee increase, that the benefits must have improved, right? Well, think again. Many feel the concierge has greatly deteriorated the past few years. In fact, I have read a number of forum posts by cardmembers who have canceled or downgraded to platinum because they said it simply was no longer worth anywhere close to the annual fee.
Personally, I feel there was only one benefit which really made it worth the price; they used to offer free first class upgrades on domestic flights. So you could buy a coach ticket and automatically get bumped to first class for free if there was availability. However they got rid of that benefit way back, sometime around 9/11 when air travel changed for the worse.
With the reported dwindling benefits, it makes one wonder why people bother with the black card at all. Other than the prestige and status that comes with it, there’s no point in paying more for less benefits.
The Platinum Card
If you agree the American Express black card requirements are absurd, you may want to look into the Platinum version. It’s comes with a wide array of benefits, many of which are comparable to the AmEx Black. To learn more and for the special bonus signup offer, visit my sponsored review of the American Express Platinum.
I love the way frontier corrected someone else’s spelling, but doesn’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re.” Got a good laugh from that. I’m not perfect or rich, but I enjoy life without looking down my nose at other people.
I have 2 AMEX cards a personal and corporate platinum. On my corporate card I used to charge almost $1 million per month (a lot of inventory and supplies), always pay on time, my company is very profitable. Because I was able to work out better terms with my suppliers (not to charge) my Amex bill is now $50,000-100,000 per month.
I just called about getting an “invite” and was pretty much told not at this time. Funny story is, 2 years ago I had a break-in at one of my warehouses, they caught 2 guys, one of them tried to post bail with his own black card.
Can i work with u
i have platinum American express card. i spent last year over 450k. i called them already 3 times. every time that i called them they told me wait it’s coming soon you should get it soon.
first they told me you should get it on sep. this is the time when they start giving invitations. then i called them in nov they told me they are giving the invitations at end of the year. i called them again they told me you should get it soon.
i have a great credit i spend a lot of money like they want and they are doing a joke!!!! someone know something about? or i should just close my account with American express?
i just recently ( not resently drake paris) got my black card, and purchased a $12mil island fully equipped with the finest filet mignon get on my level samantha with many letters and dollar sign. This is all possible when your the king of spain making less than the american president. my 6 month old baby just bought a bugatti with her black card. They’re great and well worth it unless your poor.
Samantha is on crack. 300,000/month spending habits??? Doubt it. She probably doesn’t have a dime to her name.
Next to a nice car or wristwatch, nothing gets a woman’s attention like an AMEX card!
Hellooooo don’t you fools realize that Samantha is being a sarcastic troll?!
Samantha, you should be hanging from a meat hook bleeding out. The world has no need for your kind.
To CreditCardGuru:
I do remember when the card first came out and the spending was exorbitant. It was designed primarily for the convenience of an extravagent lifestyle without the hassle of dealing with cash or the banks (you could go to Vegas, or Morroco or London and not worry about the old “American Express Travelers Checks” that I’m sure very few are fortunate enough to remember!). It makes life simpler for people who travel abroad and lets say buy new furniture for their living room in Bangledesh and have it shipped to America…swipe the card and you’re done. Getting custom made shirts and suits in Hong Kong? Just swipe the card. That was what it was primarily designed for, and if that doesn’t necessarily fit your demographic, then chances are you don’t need one. because here in the states if you’re going shopping just 20 minutes away with daddy’s card, well then I’m sure the platinum would work fine for you. Although, I personally as a matter of money management as well as good parenting prefer to give my kids a no fee, no hassle debit card with all the money I feel is appropriate for them given the event or circumstance. The card itself was introduced with a specific target demographic in mind and not inteded for status. The arrogant Americans that we are, that is what we have made it. And we want to carry one just to carry one.
By the way, Samantha, you’re not rich, your “Daddy” is and he kinda just dragged your ass along!
Why complain about this card? I LOVE IT! I got my first Amex black card at 15, on to my dads account of course. I’m 17 now, and this card is BEAST! although my dad only let’s me spend 50,000 a week it still works wonders ! I bought my first car with it. Yes, CAR! Mercedes S55 ! Didn’t even know I could spend that much on it. But, you do have to have a good credit score. I’m not trying to brag, I’m just saying, this card may be over rated to some, only because it’s not like a regular credit card. You of course have to pay monthly, which isn’t a problem at all. Between my brother, me, mom & dad. I’m thinking my dad pays almost 300,000 a month for all four cards. And it’s something you have to keep up. You can’t just not pay. That would be ridiculous! That’s what money’s for. Like my mom&dad say, “why save money, it’s made to spend !” which both my brother & I live by. (: this card is fab ! And everyone should have one !
What does your dad do for his living ….or lifestyle….if no longer working???????
To CreditCardGuru:
Lauren is absolutely correct–I got the same invitation from AMEX last week. The published fee is $495 per year, and it is DEFINITELY an AMEX Centurian black card, not a Visa. I almost passed out when I saw it . . . until I realized it’s not much of an honor anymore.
You are an idiot and therefore not qualified to use any card, Visa, Amex or otherwise. If you cannot tell the difference between a Visa and an Amex invitation then you might be losing your eyesight too. Everyone has gotten the stupid Black Visa invites, they are worthless.
Re: Lauren’s comment – That one you are talking about is the Visa Black Card, which is a far cry form the AmEx Centurion.
Just to dispel any myths here, I just got an “invite” to get a black card, and the annual fee is $495, and I do not spend $250k a year on credit cards. If they are inviting me, they must have lowered their standards!!! I’ve been a member of AMEX for 25 years, and I always pay my bills on time. I don’t have a platinum card (never saw the need), and I do spend a lot on my blue cash card, but not $250k. Oh, and there is no initiation fee on the invite either. Just the annual fee of $495.
Lauren, you received a VISA Black card invitation. There is no AMEX Black Card invite for $495. If you read about the Visa card, it matches exactly what you state. Also, I received the same invitation twice. At first I thought it was from Amex, but it wasn’t. Sorry.
it like saying why drive a porsche when a toyota will get you there as well!
Having both Platinum and Black cards I will agree Platinum is the way to go. I only resently earned the Black card. I Only got it to have it. I have used it a few times and I must say when you hand someone a metal credit card that is black from AM EX they do look at you a little diffrently specially in a high end department store. But of course Sir. is often the next thing that is said
I’m totaly agreed with Andrew Monda
Visa Black card did send me a Black card and is so BLACK to see the benifit, Amex platinum ways better with airport lounges services and with new benifit for first 200usd credit back to your card if happen you have to check in your luggage
Visa black card is a joke. There are no benefits to it at all that you would actually justify paying the fee for, and the free gift they send you annually is a cross point pen… “Oh… Good” You are better off getting a regular visa card with 1% rewards. I applied for VISA black and they sent me the card the next week, and I have decent credit. The card is a joke. I called them and told them that and they told me they would wave the fee for the first year, I told them it was still a joke and I canceled it. My Amex platinum card has better services, better rewards, and better online access, also, I can transfer my points directly to continental onepass miles or anything else, so the rewards are great!
Informative. Thanks. In my opinion AMEX black cards are just funny. Paying $5K and then $2500/yr for the “privilege” of spending $20K a month and giving AMEX your life spending history? No thanks AMEX, and as I probably don’t qualify for the more reasonable Visa Black, I’ll just spray-paint my debit cards black like they suggest in that Stones song.