Best Credit Card In The World
There are some credit cards that are just tools for managing your credit. Rewards are offered by others. In addition to offering both, these credit cards offer perks like 24/7 concierge service, access to private jets, and gold-plated cards. Style points are what you’re after, so you’ve come to the right place.
Best Credit Card In The World
Only the highest net worth individuals are eligible for these invite-only credit cards. Discover invite requirements, rumored rewards, and more.
Centurion Card from American Express (aka Amex Black Card)
- Annual fee: $5,000; plus an initiation fee of $10,000
- Rewards: 1x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent
- Invite Requirements: Reports say that you must charge at least $250,000 annually on your Amex card
American Express’ Centurion Card tops our list of the most exclusive credit cards. With the introduction of the Amex Black Card in 1999, American Express became the first U.S. credit card company to use exclusivity to attract customers.
The mystery behind the card contributes to its appeal. To qualify for this card, American Express must contact you first. Apparently, Centurion Cardholders must spend (and pay off) at least $250,000 a year across all their American Express accounts to qualify.
You will have to pay a high premium if you are invited to join this exclusive club. The initiation fee alone is $10,000, followed by an annual fee of around $5,000, plus $5,000 for each additional Centurion Card.
For those fees, cardholders receive automatic upgrades to hotels and flights, as well as discounts on cruises and luxury car rentals. Centurion members have access to luxurious lounges at some airports. These are just a few of the rumored perks. Once you become a cardmember — if you are ever invited — you will likely discover many other benefits.
J.P. Morgan Reserve Card
- Annual fee: $595
- Rewards: 3x points on travel and dining worldwide, 1x point on all other purchases, $300 annual travel credit, complimentary airport lounge access, VIP access to events & experiences, and more
- Invitation requirements: Have $10 million or more to invest with J.P. Morgan
Have you got $10 million or more to invest with J.P. Morgan? Our next ultra-exclusive card — the J.P. Chase Reserve Card — might be perfect for you. The new card, which replaces the Palladium Card, is aimed at extremely high net worth clients. As with its predecessor, the Reserve Card is made of metal plated with palladium. Compared to a conventional plastic credit card, it weighs approximately five times as much. The program is available only to J.P. Morgan Global Wealth Management clients with non-real estate assets over $10 million.
Cardholders pay a reasonable $595 annual fee and receive $300 in travel credits and complimentary access to airport lounges. You can also take advantage of Visa Infinite benefits, such as hotel and car rental privileges you won’t find with an average card.
Stratus White Card
- Annual fee: $1,500
- Rewards: Travel on private jets or charter flights, concierge services, luxury hotel upgrades, and more
- Invitation requirements: Need a referral from an existing cardmember
In spite of black being the color of choice among the most elite credit cards, the Stratus Rewards Visa card bucks this trend by being known as the “White Card.” This card is only available to those invited or nominated and has a $1,500 annual fee.
It is unknown what gets a Stratus Rewards Visa Card into your wallet. Most likely, it will only be available to those who spend over $100,000 a year on their current credit cards.
Among the benefits of membership are free upgrades to luxury hotel rooms and, of course, a personal concierge at your disposal. Rumor has it that the concierge service can handle everything from booking flights to picking up dry cleaning.
Citi Chairman American Express Card
- Annual fee: $500
- Rewards: Access to private airport lounges, 24/7 concierge service, and more
- Invitation requirements: Must have significant investments with a Citigroup brokerage account
Citi Chairman American Express Card’s exclusivity comes from the fact that only Citigroup brokerage account holders are eligible for membership in this card club.
There are rumors that the card has a credit limit of $300,000 and a relatively low annual fee of $500. As with the other cards on the list, the travel perks are extreme. Among them are travel upgrades, airport lounge access, and concierge services that arrange travel and dining at your convenience.
You need an invite to get a Black Chairman Card — excellent credit alone won’t get you one. For that coveted invite, make sure you deposit some serious cash into your Citigroup Brokerage account.
Dubai First Royale Card
- Annual fee: Available upon request
- Rewards: Lifestyle manager
- Invite requirements: Unknown, but must have an ultra-high net worth
According to Dubai First, its Royale Card is the most exclusive credit card in the world. There is no pre-set spending limit on the Royale Card by Dubai First. There is a .235-carat diamond centered on the front of the card, which is trimmed in gold on both sides. The majority of cardholders are located in the United Arab Emirates, but this card is available worldwide as well.
Dubai First provides cardholders with a dedicated relationship manager. Additionally, they receive a lifestyle manager who acts as a concierge for almost any request the cardholder may have. Last-minute tickets to the Grammys? How about box seats to a sold-out Broadway show? A lifestyle manager can handle all that and more when you have a Royale.
Conclusion
There are plenty of elite credit cards available, as you can see. You’ll have to be a big spender or an investor to qualify for the most exclusive credit cards — and you’ll need to pay a high annual fee. It may still be worth it if you want the style points that only an exclusive credit card can provide.
Check out our page dedicated to highlighting high-end or premium credit cards if you want to compare more cards. Unique designs are common on many of these exclusive credit cards.