The Most Exclusive Credit Cards
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Several decades ago, the infamous American Express Black card began as just a rumor — a mythology that traveled around the globe, claiming only the most elite socialites, businesspeople, and top earners in the country could get their hands on the world’s most rewarding card.
In an episode of the Netflix “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” show, John Mulaney and Jerry Seinfeld discuss the mythology of the Amex Black card and whether or not Seinfeld himself is responsible for the card’s existence. Seinfeld claimed on the episode that while shooting an ad for Amex, he first heard about the Black Card and called the company's president to ask about it. As the story goes, he was told there was no Black Card, but the company decided to create one, and according to Seinfeld, he received the first one.
While the Black card officially hit the scene in 1999, there’s no way to know if it was because Seinfeld pitched the concept or if it was already in the works. But one thing is certain — the mythology around exclusive cards remains, and for many chasing a lifestyle full of finer things, getting their hands on the best one is crucial.
Here are some of the most exclusive credit cards available right now, how much they cost, the perks they offer, and how to qualify for them.
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Overview of the most exclusive credit cards
Issuer | Best for |
Centurion® Card from American Express (a.k.a. the Black Card) | The original exclusive card |
JP Morgan Reserve Card | A card with heavy bragging rights and not much else |
Stratus Rewards Visa | Best for bespoke rewards |
Dubai First Royale Mastercard | The most exclusive card on the market |
Coutts Silk Charge Card | No annual fee options with special gifts and perks |
Mastercard Black Card | A lackluster elite card |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | A great luxury travel card |
Citigroup Chairman Card | Best for Citi loyalists |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Most accessible top-tier rewards card |
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The most exclusive credit cards
Centurion® Card from American Express
Also known as the Amex Black Card, this credit card set the trend for exclusive and VIP credit cards. Historically, the Amex Black card is only invite-only and reserved for high earners (think $1 million and up). However, you can ask to be considered for this card if you're an Amex member.
It comes with a steep $5,000 annual fee and also requires an excellent credit score. It also has a $10,000 initiation fee. You’ll earn one point per dollar on all eligible purchases with this card — but the points aren’t where the real value lies.
As an Amex Black Card holder, you’ll get access to 24/7 concierge service, top travel status, and a variety of memberships and credits like:
- Equinox All Access Gym Membership (worth approximately $3,380 per year)
- Saks Fifth Avenue $1,000 credit each year ( $250 per quarter)
- CLEAR membership for you and your family
- Delta Platinum Medallion Status
- Hilton Diamond Status
- Hertz Platinum Status
Other benefits include bragging rights, card customizations (including a wearable Prada black card), airport lounge access, VIP airport arrival services, additional hotel statuses, and much more.
JP Morgan Reserve Card
Another invite-only card, the JP Morgan Reserve Card, also operates as a status symbol but boasts striking similarities to another card on this list — the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Formerly known as the Chase Palladium, you’ll need to earn a pretty penny to receive an invite for this card (upwards of $10 million). Like the Amex Back, it costs $10,000 for the initiation fee and $5,000 for the annual fee. And it screams luxury.
This card is made out of palladium, titanium, and 24-karat gold, making it one of the heaviest and most expensive cards to make.
But it offers much better rewards than the Amex Black Card, though most are identical to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 5x points on flights, 10x points on hotels, 10x points through Chase Dining, 3x at restaurants, etc. The only real benefit the Reserve doesn’t offer is United Club Membership.
While it may be more useful than the Amex Black Card, it also feels like it’s more of a flex card when you could get 99% of the same benefits with a less expensive card.
Stratus Rewards Visa
Also known as the White Card, this exclusive credit card is also invite-only, though you can receive a referral from an existing cardholder. The annual fee is rumored to cost around $1,500, though it’s difficult to find public data on the cost of this card.
The Stratus Rewards Visa comes with concierge service and is said to offer VIP access to various entertainment events that are otherwise impossible to get into. It’s also supposed to offer rewards customized to each cardholder, but the rates and different categories aren’t publicly available.
This card offers access to private jets and chartered flights, making it ideal if you travel often. It also comes with complimentary car service and hotel upgrades.
Like other exclusive credit cards on this list, the White Card caters to the affluent, though income requirements are not as easily accessible.
Dubai First Royale Mastercard
If you thought the Black Card was exclusive, you might be more tempted by the Dubai First Royale Mastercard. Owned by Dubai First, this card is said to be held by the royal Dubai and Saudi families and only the highest net worth people in the world. There are rumored only to be around 200 cardholders.
It has a much lower annual fee than most — $1,905 — and comes with balance transfer privileges (though we’re not sure why high-income individuals would need this feature). There are no specified rewards. Instead, this card is all about the perks.
You’ll get access to a relationship manager and lifestyle manager (a form of concierge service) to help arrange your travel plans. It also has no spending limit, and purchases are guaranteed to go through.
True to the luxury it caters to, this card is edged with real gold, and there’s even a .325-carat diamond in the center. And like other VIP cards on this list, you’ll need an invite to get your hands on it.
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Coutts Silk Charge Card
It’s rumored that the British Royals use the Coutts Silk Charge Card, showing you exactly how exclusive this particular credit card is.
You’ll need to be a Coutts client to gain access to this card, and the bank requires an initial deposit of approximately one million pounds to get started. However, there’s no annual fee, a perk that most invite-only cards don’t offer.
You get access to concierge service, hotel upgrades, and discounted airport lounge access. You’ll also earn free gifts as you spend more with your Coutts card, though the company doesn’t offer any insight into what these gifts could be.
The real reason to get this card is the concierge service — its rewards are rather lackluster otherwise.
Mastercard Black Card
This luxury card is easily confused with the Amex Black Card by name — and that’s likely no accident. But the similarities end here. The Mastercard Black Card is not invite-only. You can apply for it, but I’m not sure why you’d want to.
This card has a $495 annual fee that’s hard to offset with rewards. Instead, you’re paying for the idea of a luxury card and bragging rights of owning a Black Card — two reasons that aren’t compelling enough to make this card a solid pick.
Depending on the purchase, it offers 1.5% or 2% rewards, but you can get that for free with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. It has no foreign transaction fees, but for this price tag, you’d expect that. It comes with a 24/7 concierge via the card’s mobile app, but nothing as robust as the invite-only cards offer.
What you’re getting with this card is the loud clang of stainless steel when you drop it on a table and the satisfied feeling of seeing the words “Black Card” printed across the top. And if that’s all you’re after, you’ll just need excellent credit and $495 to get started.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
With a large welcome offer and great rewards, the The Platinum Card® from American Express is actually a luxury card you’re likely to get your hands on if you have a high credit score and don’t mind shelling out $695 for the annual fee.
Unlike the Mastercard Black Card, this card can be worth the price tag for the right cardholder. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Pointsafter you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.. And while excellent credit is helpful, getting this card with a good credit score (670 or up) is possible.
If you travel often, it’s an excellent card and you can take advantage of its top-tier rewards. Otherwise, opt for a card with no annual fee or rewards that better fit your spending.
Citigroup Chairman Card
Another invite-only card, the Citigroup Chairman Card, is rumored to require you to hold significant investments within Citigroup — and excellent credit — to receive an invitation to apply.
This card has a lower annual fee than most (currently around $500), and it does have a credit limit. The exact limit isn’t disclosed, but it’s estimated to be around $300,000.
It also offers robust travel perks, with its concierge service as the main draw. You’ll also get trip upgrades and airport lounge access with this card.
Additional details are hard to come by on this card, but rewards are limited to concierge service and credits, like others on this list.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
If you spend a lot of dining and travel, this rewards card is a more cost-effective option than the JP Morgan Reserve Card. You’ll earn the same rewards — while potentially snagging a welcome offer — and you can apply for it if you have excellent credit. There’s no need to worry about invites.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best top-tier travel cards, with a $550 annual fee. Earn 60,000 bonus pointsafter you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.. That’s worth up to $900 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards — the card provider’s rewards portal where Sapphire Reserve points are worth up to 1.5 cents per dollar.
You’ll also receive a $300 annual travel credit, access to over 1,300 airport lounges, and credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry. Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
It may not have the same luxury look as other cards, but it’s much more versatile and useful if you’re not part of the 1%. It is a metal card, though, so it will feel more luxurious than a traditional plastic credit card.
Summary of the most exclusive credit cards
Issuer | Annual Fee |
Centurion® Card from American Express | $5,000 |
JP Morgan Reserve Card | $5,000 |
Stratus Rewards Visa | $1,500 |
Dubai First Royale Mastercard | $1,905 |
Coutts Silk Charge Card | $0 |
Mastercard Black Card | $495 |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 |
Citigroup Chairman Card | $500 |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 |
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FAQs
Which credit cards do millionaires use?
Those with a high net worth are likely to use one of the top-tier luxury credit cards, like the Amex Centurion Card, the JP Morgan Reserve Card, the Stratus Rewards Card, the Dubai First Royale Mastercard, or the Coutts Silk Charge Card. While these cards have elite status and benefits, they typically have higher annual fees and some don’t earn any rewards. Instead, the expansive concierge services and travel benefits make them worthwhile for celebrities and others traveling frequently.
Why is the Black Card so sought after?
The Amex Black Card has a rich history steeped in rumors. While this card has a steep annual fee, it offers unbeatable hotel elite statuses at major hotel chains, an enviable concierge service to help you around the clock, and other travel incentives.
How do I get an exclusive credit card?
Most exclusive credit cards are invite-only and require a net worth of well over one million dollars. Unfortunately, most average Americans won’t have access to these exclusive cards, but there are other top-notch credit cards to consider. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for instance, has long since been considered one of the ultimate travel credit cards, and offers almost all of the same perks as the JP Morgan Reserve card for a fraction of the price tag.
What credit score do I need for a luxury card?
You’ll typically need excellent credit to apply for the most exclusive credit cards — though some may approve you if your credit is good (think high 600s). However, most of these cards have other requirements, like a minimum income threshold, specific investment amounts, and invite-only access to apply and get approved.
What is a luxury credit card?
The definition of a luxury credit card varies from person to person. To some, a luxury card is an invite-only exclusive credit card, while others might see top-tier dining and travel cards and luxury cards. Typically a card may be considered luxury if it requires a high income to qualify, excellent credit, or is made with special materials, like metals, silver, and gold.
Should you apply for an exclusive credit card?
Ultimately, the top exclusive credit cards are made for the elite 1%. And as a result, they’re expensive, impossible to apply for without an invitation, and likely offer rewards that you wouldn’t find entirely useful. These cards instead focus on providing experiences and concierge assistance for celebrities and other high-income earners who are frequently traveling.
You can still apply for exclusive cards on this list, like the American Express Platinum Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve. These cards offer top-tier travel rewards and lower annual fees than the other exclusive cards on this list. While the Mastercard Black card technically can be applied for, it’s fairly lackluster and easily out shadowed by no annual fee cards.
The bottom line
Don’t fall for the hype of luxury cards when deciding which credit card is right for you. Some of the most exclusive cards, like the Amex Black Card, offer significant benefits to high-income earners but cost thousands and are available by invite-only. Others are dressed-up versions or more affordable credit cards. Ultimately, you’re paying for the branding and bragging rights.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t apply for a luxury card if you’re one of the other 99%. Some of the best metal cards, travel credit cards, and rewards credit cards offer comparable perks and even higher rewards rates. Just make sure you can take advantage of a card’s specific rewards before applying.
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Writer
Courtney Johnston is a freelance writer, specializing in finance, travel, and health. She has written for The Chicago Tribune, Benzinga, BestReviews, Mashvisor, Fundera, MoneyGeek, and The Culture Trip. She also teaches writing instruction at the University of Indianapolis. Courtney currently resides in Indianapolis.
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