Is there anything higher than a black card?

No, there aren’t any credit cards higher than the “Amex Black Card.” Officially called the Centurion® Card from American Express, the Amex Black Card is far and away the most exclusive, prestigious credit card on the market.

Why There Are No Cards Higher Than the Black Card

An invitation is required just to apply for the Amex Black Card, and you’ll reportedly have to meet very strict requirements in order to receive an invitation. In particular, you will need to show that you’ve spent, and paid off, at least $100,000 across all of your Amex accounts in a calendar year. If you’re approved, there’s a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5000 annual fee for the privilege of owning the card.

The Amex Black Card enjoys a certain mystique, too. Aside from a handful of perks such as Centurion Lounge access, luxury hotel benefits, and a 24/7 personal concierge, American Express publicly offers few details on the privileges that a card membership offers its elite clientele.

Not-So-High-End Competitors

Not all black cards are high-end. The Amex Centurion Card easily beats out the Mastercard® Black Card in terms of exclusivity, benefits and prestige. The downside is that most people will not be able to get the Centurion Card, and most people could not afford it anyway. 

Except for the Amex version, black cards – and other cards promoted to compete with the Amex Black Card – aren’t even as good as many of the best regular rewards credit cards on the market. These less-remarkable credit cards include the Mastercard® Black Card, the Diners Club Elite Credit Card, the Mastercard® Gold Card, and others.

Contenders for Highest-End Credit Card

There are some legitimately exclusive credit cards out there that are almost as high-end as the Amex Black Card. Among them are the J.P. Morgan Reserve Credit Card and the Citi Chairman Credit Card. While they’re not as well-known as the Amex Black Card, these two cards are also invitation-only, and have their own lofty income thresholds and spending requirements just to be approved.