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Centurion® Card from American Express review: Exclusive benefits at a high cost
Editors’ take: The Centurion Card® from American Express, also known as the Amex Black Card, is an ultra-exclusive status symbol offering unparalleled luxury benefits and services. But its high initiation and annual fees make it suitable only for the wealthiest individuals who can maximize its elite perks.
Image: hands-thumbs-upGreat for the ultra-wealthy seeking exclusive perks
Annual Fee: $5000
This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their Centurion® Card from American Express or similar cards.
% of members by credit limit range
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $10,570, with $1,000 being the most common.
Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their Centurion® Card from American Express or similar cards.
% of members by credit score range
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 695, with 749 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.
Member stats
Updated daily
26.2%
Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.
44 years
Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.
$106,009
Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.
Pros and cons
Image: yesExclusive access to events and services
Image: yesFirst-rate concierge service
Image: yesNo preset spending limit
Image: ConHigh $10,000 initiation fee
Image: ConSteep $5000 annual fee
Image: ConUnclear qualification criteria
Centurion® Card from American Express review
Updated February 7, 2025
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Written by: Tim Devaney
Is the Centurion Card® from American Express worth it?
The Centurion Card® from American Express — also known as the American Express Black Card — is one of the most exclusive and secretive credit cards on the market.
While American Express doesn’t release most details about the card to the public, its exclusive benefits and reputation as a status symbol make it a sought-after card. To get the card, you’ll have to be invited by American Express or request an invite.
But keep in mind that you’ll have to spend a lot of money and make use of its concierge services frequently to justify the cost of the sky-high annual fee and initiation fee.
Centurion Card® from American Express at a glance
- Annual fee: $5000
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Welcome bonus: Not publicly disclosed
- Standout benefit: World-class concierge service
Centurion Card® from American Express best perks and features
Concierge service
The Centurion® Card from American Express features an excellent concierge service. The personal concierge can help cardholders set up travel and dinner reservations, and it can assist in emergencies, such as natural disasters during travel.
This benefit could be especially valuable for people interested in a personal assistant available day and night — a rare perk.
Exclusive access to certain events
The Centurion® Card from American Express gives cardholders exclusive access to popular events like sports games, concerts, theater shows and other events.
This access may be appealing if you enjoy feeling like a VIP at popular events.
Perks to help your travel go smoothly
Having this card in your wallet can make your airport experience more enjoyable and luxurious with access to the Centurion Lounge and Priority Pass lounges.
But keep in mind that you can get the same lounge access the Centurion® Card from American Express provides from other premium travel cards that have less-expensive annual fees, like the Platinum Card® from American Express.
What are the drawbacks of the Centurion® Card from American Express?
High initiation fee and annual fee
The Centurion® Card from American Express charges a one-time $10,000 initiation fee just to open the account.
Cardholders also pay a $5000 annual fee. By comparison, the Platinum Card® from American Express charges a $695 annual fee. American Express may refund the annual fee for the Centurion® Card from American Express if the account is closed within 30 days of the billing statement in which it was charged, but otherwise it’s a steep price to pay for the privilege of having the card.
Unclear qualification criteria
American Express doesn’t publicize its requirements for extending invitations to members. Reports suggest that cardholders need to spend several hundred thousand dollars annually on another American Express credit card. If you’re interested in the card, you may be able to request an invitation through the Centurion website.
How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards® points
The Centurion® Card from American Express is part of the American Express Membership Rewards® program. You can redeem Membership Rewards points for travel, gift cards, merchandise and more.
But Amex doesn’t disclose specific redemption rates and options for the Black Card.
Other cards to consider
- Platinum Card® from American Express: This card offers a luxury American Express experience at a far more affordable annual fee.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: If you care more about travel value than bragging rights, this card offers plenty of perks and rewards flexibility.
- Mastercard® Black Card™: If you’re committed to the “Black Card” name at the expense of everything else, this option fits the bill.
Credit Karma’s methodology
Credit Karma uses qualitative and quantitative measures to review travel and premium credit cards. Our goal is to help you understand a card’s most useful features — and where it may fall short compared to other options.
We take into account factors such as unique rewards and benefits, ease of redeeming rewards, fees and rates, transfer partners, lounge access and rewards rates.
Credit Karma editors have also built some proprietary metrics to measure the value of rewards credit cards.
Our point valuations estimate how much rewards programs are worth. We look at both the value you could get by redeeming your points directly through a credit card issuer, as well as the value you could get by transferring your points and miles to an airline or hotel rewards program.
Instead of just telling you how many miles you could earn, the editors’ estimated bonus value multiplies the sign-up bonus by the reward program’s point valuations to tell you how much we believe they’re worth.
Our goal is that these metrics will help you decide whether the card’s rewards and benefits are worth it for you.
FAQs about the Centurion® Card from American Express
The American Express Black Card, or Centurion Card® from American Express, is invite-only. Reported criteria include high annual spending and a significant income.
The Amex Black Card, or Centurion Card® from American Express, has no preset spending limit, offering flexibility based on spending habits and payment history.
The Amex Black Card, or Centurion® Card from American Express, stands out because of its exclusive benefits, such as world-class concierge service, access to VIP events and luxurious airport lounges.