The American Express Black Card is officially called the Centurion Card. It is the most exclusive credit card American Express offers, carrying a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee. You cannot apply for it the way you would a normal credit card. It is invitation-only, reserved for people who already spend heavily on other Amex cards and have an exceptional credit history.
What the Card Actually Costs
The Centurion Card has two layers of cost. First, there is a one-time initiation fee of $10,000 just to activate the membership. On top of that, you pay $5,000 every year to keep the card. If you want additional cards for a spouse or family member, each authorized user card costs another $5,000 per year, and you can add up to two.
For context, the Amex Platinum card, which is already considered a premium product, charges an $895 annual fee with no initiation fee and just $195 per additional card. The Centurion’s fees are roughly six times higher across the board.
Who Gets an Invitation
American Express does not publish official eligibility requirements, but the general profile of a Centurion cardholder has become well known over the years. Reports consistently point to a few soft thresholds: at least one year of history as an existing Amex cardholder, annual spending in the six figures or higher on your Amex cards (some estimates suggest $1 million or more per year), and a credit score of 800 or above.
The card was historically pure invitation-only, meaning Amex would reach out to you. Since late 2021, however, the Centurion website has offered a short online form where existing Amex cardholders can request consideration. Filling out the form does not guarantee anything. It simply flags your interest and lets Amex review your account to decide whether you qualify.
Concierge and Personal Services
The centerpiece benefit of the Centurion Card is a round-the-clock dedicated concierge service. While the Platinum card also includes concierge access, Centurion cardholders report a noticeably more hands-on, personalized experience. Your concierge can book travel, secure reservations at restaurants that are otherwise fully booked, purchase event tickets, and even buy gifts on your behalf. Centurion members get top priority in Amex’s concierge queue, which in practice means faster responses and better access.
Travel Benefits
The Centurion Card grants automatic elite status with several airlines, hotel chains, and car rental companies. The most notable is Delta Platinum Medallion status, which is Delta’s second-highest tier. That comes with free checked bags, complimentary upgrades starting five days before departure, and discounts on expedited security screening. By comparison, the Amex Platinum card does not include any Delta elite status.
On the hotel side, you receive Hilton Diamond status (the Platinum card only gets you Hilton Gold), along with elite tiers at IHG, Shangri-La, and several other chains. These memberships translate into complimentary room upgrades, late checkouts, spa and resort credits, and daily breakfast at participating properties. For car rentals, you get Avis President’s Club and Hertz’s invite-only Platinum status.
The card also includes Centurion Arrival and Departure Services at participating airports. When you book a first- or business-class ticket through Amex Travel with your Centurion Card, a personal airport concierge will guide you and up to eight travel companions through the terminal. Centurion members also receive a complimentary membership to PS, which operates private luxury terminals at select airports, including two complimentary visits per calendar year with a guest.
Lifestyle and Membership Perks
Beyond travel, the Centurion Card unlocks access to experiences that are simply not available to other Amex cardholders. Centurion New York is a members-only club on the 55th floor of One Vanderbilt in Manhattan, offering private dining and lounge access. Members also get entry to the Centurion Tunnel Suite at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where you can bring up to three guests.
One of the card’s highest-value perks is a complimentary Equinox Destination Access membership, which normally costs over $3,000 per year. This includes access to all Equinox gym locations along with the Equinox+ digital platform. The card also comes with a CLEAR+ credit of $369 per year, compared to $209 on the Platinum card.
Rewards Structure
The Centurion Card earns Membership Rewards points, the same currency used across all Amex charge and credit cards. One unique feature is the 20% Reload benefit: when you use at least 5,000 Membership Rewards points to book eligible travel through the Amex Travel portal, you get 20% of those points back. Spend 10,000 points on a Pay with Points reservation, and 2,000 points are returned to your account. This effectively stretches the value of every point you redeem for travel.
Is It Worth the Cost
The math on the Centurion Card only works if you are already spending at the level required to receive an invitation. The Equinox membership alone covers more than half the annual fee, and the Delta Platinum Medallion status, Hilton Diamond status, and airport services add thousands more in value for frequent travelers. The concierge service is harder to quantify but is consistently cited as the card’s most practical everyday benefit.
For most people, the Amex Platinum card delivers a strong set of travel and lifestyle perks at a fraction of the price. The Centurion Card exists for a narrow group of ultra-high spenders who will actually use the elevated status tiers, private airport terminals, and exclusive venue access that come with it. If you are spending enough to attract an invitation, you are likely in a position where the $5,000 annual fee is a small percentage of what you already put on your cards each year.