It’s predicted that by 2023, there will be over 1.25 billion credit card holders. The four major networks are VISA, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover. Though these brands are not all-inclusive, most of the cards on this list will be included under their umbrella.
Normally, you want the cheapest credit card possible with the most benefits for the lowest rates and no annual fee. However, these cards do not follow that pattern. They are the 8 most expensive credit cards out there. Thankfully, the benefits will go up along with the price, so you have to make the call yourself whether these astronomically expensive cards are worth it.
Required Expenditures: Unknown
Annual Fee: $500
Regular APR: 11.24%
photo source: CardRates
It’s unknown whether the Citi Chairman American Express Card requires any expenditures to qualify for, but we know it requires ideal financial standings, high credit scores, and a sizable monthly income. The rewards for this card, however, support its $500 annual fee and its high-end requirements.
A phone service offered through the card allows its members to get easy access to last-minute luxury hotel stays and even send a concierge out to get gifts, charter flights, or do whatever they need. People who are busy business travelers will make good use of the card’s 24-hour emergency travel help. The low interest rate (the lowest on this list) is a big selling point.
Did you know?
While the card starts at a tantalizingly low interest rate, penalties are rough on this card, with penalty rates going up to 29.99%. At least you’ll still have access to your concierge and private flights!
Required Expenditures: None
Annual Fee: $550
Regular APR: 16.99% – 23.99%
photo source: Chase Credit Cards
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card has an annual fee of $550 and a hefty regular APR, up to 23.99% depending on the account’s standing. This already makes it one of the most expensive credit cards available.
The card does try to offset these costs with benefits, however. The card offers its holders a $300 travel credit annually as well as access to airport lounges enrolled in the card program called Priority Pass Select. Chase also offers a Travel Team to assist with your flight and lodging arrangements, which is a unique feature not offered by all luxury cards.
Did you know?
Chase Ultimate Rewards offers new cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Card 50,000 bonus points to start, provided the new cardholder spends $4,000 within the first 3 months. When redeemed as travel expenses through Chase’s program, these points have a value of $750.
Required Expenditures: None
Annual Fee: $695
Regular APR: 14.24% – 22.24%
photo source: American Express
The Business Platinum Card from American Express as the name implies is defined by luxury perks and upgrades befitting businesspeople, including yearly account credits and travel benefits. These include $200 in airline credits annually and $400 in credits for the purchase of Dell products.
Unlike most business credit cards, there’s a hefty annual fee on this one of $695. Spending $15,000 in the first three months of having this card nets its users 120,000 credit points, which is worth over $900.
Did you know?
The base rewards aren’t great on this card, but cardholders also get lounge access as part of the Global Lounge Collection, which offers luxury cardholders free stays in airport lounges in over 140 countries around the world. This benefit should be weighed realistically – as nice as it is, not many high-powered business travelers stick around at airports.
Required Expenditures: $10,000,000 (investment)
Annual Fee: $595
Regular APR: 13.24%
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
If you’ve seen other lists of the most expensive credit cards, you may be wondering where the J.P. Morgan Palladium Card is. Well, the well-known luxury card was phased out a few years ago in favor of its replacement, the just-as-luxurious J.P. Morgan Chase Reserve Card. Only clients of extremely high net worth can apply for this card. It is rumored that to be considered, you have to have at least $10,000,000 in non-real estate assets (meaning not property or belongings) to invest in cash with J.P. Morgan.
Suffice it to say that while the number of members worthy of a Reserve Card is not publicly known, it’s probably not too many. Despite this insane prerequisite, the card has a surprisingly competitive annual fee of $595 (competitive for a card at this level), which is why in terms of being an expensive card, it’s not as high as it could be.
Did you know?
As a cardholder, you would gain access to annual travel credits amounting to $300 as well as access to private airport lounges, car and hotel rental privileges, and more.
Required Expenditures: None
Annual Fee: $995
Regular APR: 14.99%
photo source: Luxury Card
The MasterCard Gold Card has an annual fee of $995 and a regular APR of 14.99%, making it one of the most luxurious credit cards you can get. To meet this luxury head-on, the card is made of stainless steel, plated with gold (24-karat). It features a concierge service, Priority Pass, and a subscription to Luxury magazine.
Cardholders get a point per dollar spent as well as a bonus of 100% when using the card to travel by air or to get cashback. For travelers, the card also comes with a $200 airline credit (annual) and a $100 TSA Precheck application credit. If you travel often, you should factor those credits into the card’s annual fee.
Did you know?
MasterCard is famous for a trio of luxury credit cards, of which the Gold card is the most expensive. The other cards are the MasterCard Titanium Card and MasterCard Black Card.
Required Expenditures: $100,000
Annual Fee: $1,500
Regular APR: Unknown
photo source: Loyalty Magazine
With an annual fee of $1,500, the Stratus Rewards VISA Card has one of the most expensive upkeeps of any cards out there. It also has a required annual expenditure of $100,000 on the holder’s current VISA card as well as a referral from someone who already has a Stratus Rewards card.
For the trouble, Stratus Rewards cardholders get private jet and charter flights, luxury hotel upgrades, and even a personal concierge to call at any time. Ever needed something from the store and just felt too rich to go get it? Your Stratus Rewards butler can take care of it.
Did you know?
Since black is widely accepted as the color of luxury, many of the cards on this list are jet black cards that Bruce Wayne would be proud of. However, the Stratus Rewards VISA Card decided to be different and go for pure white to set itself apart from other luxury cards.
Required Expenditures: None
Annual Fee: $2,500
Regular APR: Unknown
photo source: Danny Deal Guru
The Dubai First Royal MasterCard is one of the most exclusive cards out there. Annual fees are available on request, but they are usually around $2,500. While there is no disclosed required expenditure to qualify for this card, it is commonly assumed that only those with a huge net worth will ever be invited to the Dubai First Royal club.
This makes it the only card that is invitation-only that also does not have a spending limit. If you qualify, you get a relationship manager through Dubai First as well as a luxury concierge at your beck and call.
Did you know?
The Dubai First Royal MasterCard reflects its luxury in the card itself, with edges trimmed in real gold and a .235-carat diamond embedded in the center.
Required Expenditures: $250,000 + $10,000 fee
Annual Fee: $5,000
Regular APR: 15.99%
photo source: Wikipedia Commons
The most expensive credit card is the American Express Centurion Card. This credit card is one of the most famous for exclusivity and it shows with the card’s prices and features. Since 1999, American Express has been tantalizing customers with this luxury card, which does not accept applications from the public. The company has to reach out and invite you to apply for this card. Only then can you pay the $10,000 application fee, which comes with an additional annual fee of $5,000.
Though it has never been confirmed, it’s assumed that you have to pay (and pay off) $250,000 or more on your current American Express card to even be considered as a Centurion member.
Did you know?
Centurion cardmembers receive huge discounts for their status, including flight upgrades, automatic hotel rooms, cruise and car rental discounts, and more. Some places like select airports and cruise terminals offer free lounges for Centurion members.
The most expensive credit cards back up exorbitant yearly fees and interest rates with high-end benefits, including concierge services, travel upgrades, and more. These major credit cards, many of which are invite-only, are the most expensive you can sign up for. But for the high-powered investor-moguls out there, they may provide enough benefits and prestige to make the overhead worth it.
FAQs
What is the rarest credit card to have? ›
The rarest credit card in the world is likely the Centurion® Card from American Express, also known as the “Black Card.” This card is available by invitation only, and you will reportedly need to spend at least $250,000 per year on other Amex credit cards and have an income of $1 million+ to get it.
What card do billionaires use? ›The credit card billionaires are most likely to use is the Centurion® Card from American Express, also known as the Amex Black Card, which has unique benefits and is reserved for high-net-worth individuals. Some of the rich and famous people rumored to have the card include Jerry Seinfeld and Halle Berry.
What is the rarest black credit card? ›The American Express Centurion Card is the original black credit card and still the most expensive, with a one-time initiation fee of $10,000 and a $5,000 annual fee.
Which is the hardest credit card to get? ›Why it's one of the hardest credit cards to get: The hardest credit card to get is the American Express Centurion Card. Known simply as the “Black Card,” you need an invitation to get Amex Centurion. And only the super rich and famous can expect to get the call, as...
What credit card has a $100000 limit? ›On our list, the card with the highest reported limit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which some say offers a $100,000 limit. We've also seen an advertised maximum credit limit of $100,000 on the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®, a credit union rewards card.
What is the #1 credit card to have? ›| WINNER (Click to read review) | |
|---|---|
| Best credit card for building credit | Discover it® Secured Credit Card |
| Best credit card for dining | U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card |
| Best credit card for groceries | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express |
The American Express Black Card doesn't have a pre-set spending limit, so cardholders can spend as much as they want every month. But that's only the case if they can afford it. The Centurion® Card from American Express is a charge card, so cardholders can't carry a balance.
What is higher than a black card? ›The Centurion card beats out the Mastercard Black card in terms of rewards, benefits, and features. The major drawback of the Centurion card is its $10,000 initiation fee and $5,000 annual fee (plus $5,000 annually for each authorized user).
What is the Black Card for rich people? ›The American Express Centurion Card, colloquially known as the Black Card, is a charge card issued by American Express. It is reserved for the company's wealthiest clients who meet certain net worth, credit quality, and spending requirements on its gateway card, the Platinum Card.
What is the highest color credit card? ›A black credit card is generally viewed as a sign of status and wealth. The most expensive credit card in the world, Sberbank's Visa Infinite Card, costs a whopping $100,000. Just to manufacture the card is said to cost $65,000. The diamond-encrusted card is made of gold and issued by the Kazakhstan branch of Sberbank.
What is the easiest Black Card to get? ›
What if you can't qualify? Most of us won't be able to qualify for the Centurion card, but there are some alternatives. For starters, Visa has its Black Card, which is significantly easier to obtain. While the benefits aren't great, if your main goal is a prestigious-appearing card made of metal, it can do the trick.
What bank owns the black card? ›What is a black card? The credit card most associated with the phrase “black card” is the Centurion® Card from American Express, or the “Amex Black Card.” It was released in 1999 and created such a buzz that other card issuers wanted to create their own deluxe credit cards to reward their highest-spending customers.
What is the single biggest credit card trap for most people? ›The minimum payment mindset
Here's how most people get trapped in credit card debt: You use your card for a purchase you can't afford or want to defer payment, and then you make only the minimum payment that month. Soon, you are in the habit of using your card to purchase things beyond your budget.
The most powerful credit card in the world is the Centurion® Card from American Express, which is famously known as the "black card" and seen as a status symbol for rich and influential people.
What are the 4 biggest credit cards? ›The four major credit card networks are American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa. American Express and Discover also issue their own credit cards which differentiates them from Mastercard and Visa who are solely card networks.
What is a millionaire credit card? ›The most prestigious credit cards are the invitation-only Centurion® Card from American Express (Amex Black Card), The Platinum Card® from American Express, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. All three cards require applicants to meet high income and/or spending standards for approval.
What is the rarest bank card in the world? ›Some exclusive credit cards are kept under wraps with no gossip about their existence. However, the Dubai First Royale Mastercard* is rumored to be the rarest credit card in the world with less than 200 cardholders.
Can I get a credit card with 666? ›Obtaining a credit card with a credit score of 666 is manageable, but there is a big risk that the lender will charge you a high-interest rate and that other banks will deny your application.
Is Black Card better than Platinum? ›Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card has better earning potential than the Mastercard Black card. Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card also offer greater potential value at redemption time when transferred to airline and hotel partners.