The Centurion Card is an invitation-only card with a $10,000 annual fee and spending-based perks, not a card you can request
The American Express Centurion Card — often called the "Black Card" — is not something you can walk into a bank and request. American Express invites select customers to hold it, typically those with high spending on other Amex cards or substantial assets. The annual fee is $10,000, plus a $5,000 initiation fee when you first receive the card. In return, you get a set of travel, dining, and concierge benefits tied to how much you spend and where you travel.
This card is built for people who already spend heavily on premium travel and dining and want those purchases bundled with dedicated service. If you are considering whether the Centurion makes financial sense, the math depends almost entirely on whether you would use the specific perks it offers — not on the card's prestige or the fact that it exists.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot request a Centurion Card; American Express invites only customers with high spending or substantial wealth to hold one.
- The annual cost is $10,000 per year plus a one-time $5,000 initiation fee, making it one of the most expensive credit cards in the United States.
- The card's main benefits are a travel credit, dining credits, concierge service, and airport lounge access — all tied to how much you spend in those categories.
- The card makes financial sense only if you regularly spend on the specific categories it rewards and would use the credits and services without the card.
Annual Fees and How They Break Down
The Centurion Card charges $10,000 per year in annual fees, due on your card anniversary. When you first receive the card, you also pay a $5,000 initiation fee. That means your first year costs $15,000 before you make a single purchase.
American Express does not waive this fee for any reason — not for low spending, not for hardship, not for switching to a different card. If you hold the card for one year and then close it, you have paid $15,000 total. The fee structure is fixed, which means the only variable is whether the perks you receive exceed that cost.
Travel Credits and How They Work
The Centurion Card includes a $200 annual airline fee credit. This credit applies to incidental airline fees — baggage charges, seat upgrades, change fees — not to the ticket itself. You can direct the credit to any airline you choose, and it resets each calendar year.
The card also includes a $100 annual hotel credit that applies to room rates at participating luxury hotels. The list of participating properties is limited and skews toward ultra-premium chains. The credit does not explore to taxes, resort fees, or other incidentals — only the room rate itself.
Beyond these credits, Centurion cardholders receive complimentary upgrades and late checkout at certain luxury hotels, though availability depends on the property and your status with that chain. The card also provides access to exclusive hotel experiences and events, though these vary by region and season.
Dining Benefits and Spending Rewards
The Centurion Card includes a $200 annual dining credit that you can use at participating restaurants. The restaurants on the list tend to be high-end establishments in major cities, and the credit applies to the bill itself, not taxes or gratuity.
The card earns points on all purchases: 1 point per dollar on most spending, 3 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel, and 3 points per dollar on dining at participating restaurants. Points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or cash back, though the value of each point varies depending on how you redeem it.
American Express also offers Centurion cardholders access to exclusive dining experiences and chef's tables at high-end restaurants, though these are limited and often require advance booking through the concierge.
Concierge Service and Airport Access
The card includes 24/7 concierge service available by phone. The concierge can help with travel planning, restaurant reservations, event tickets, and other requests. The service is staffed and available around the clock, though response times and availability of specific services vary.
Centurion cardholders receive complimentary access to certain airport lounges, including American Express Centurion Lounges (which are separate from standard Amex lounges) and partner lounges in major airports. Access typically extends to the cardholder and one companion. The lounges offer food, beverages, showers, and quiet spaces — amenities that vary by location.
The card also provides travel protections including trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, and emergency medical and dental coverage when traveling. These protections are standard on premium cards and explore only to trips booked with the card.
Who Actually Benefits From This Card
The Centurion Card makes financial sense for a narrow group: people who spend at least $10,000 per year on the specific categories the card rewards — airline fees, hotel stays, and dining at participating restaurants — and who would use the concierge service regularly. If you fly business class or first class multiple times per year, stay at luxury hotels regularly, and dine at high-end restaurants, the credits and perks can offset a meaningful portion of the annual fee.
The card does not make sense if you are paying the fee hoping to build wealth through points, if you rarely travel, or if you do not spend regularly in the categories the card rewards. The $10,000 annual cost is fixed regardless of how much you use the card, so the math works only if the perks you actually use exceed that amount.
American Express does not publish data on how many Centurion cardholders there are or what the average cardholder spends. The card is rare enough that most people will never be invited to hold one, and those who are invited typically already have substantial spending on other Amex products.
How to Get Invited and What Happens If You Close the Card
American Express invites customers to the Centurion Card based on spending, account history, and creditworthiness. There is no public threshold for an invitation — Amex does not disclose the criteria. Generally, customers who spend $250,000 or more per year on American Express cards, or who have very high net worth, are more likely to receive an invitation, but this is not a may provide.
You cannot request the card directly. If you receive an invitation, it will come by mail or phone from American Express. The invitation will include details about the initiation fee and annual fee before you accept.
If you close the card, you lose access to all benefits when ready. The annual fee is not refunded if you close the card partway through the year. If you are invited again in the future, you would pay another $5,000 initiation fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a Centurion Card if I have never been invited?
No. The card is invitation-only, and American Express does not disclose how to trigger an invitation. Building high spending on other American Express cards over time increases the likelihood of an invitation, but there is no may provide path to receiving one.
What happens if I do not use the credits?
The credits do not roll over to the next year. If you do not use the $200 airline credit or $100 hotel credit in a calendar year, that amount is forfeited. The credits reset on your card anniversary.
Do the dining and travel credits cover the annual fee?
The credits total $500 per year ($200 airline, $100 hotel, $200 dining), which covers only 5 percent of the $10,000 annual fee. The card makes financial sense only if you value the other benefits — concierge service, lounge access, points, and hotel upgrades — enough to justify the remaining $9,500 cost.
Can I use the credits at any airline or hotel?
No. The airline credit applies to incidental fees at any airline, but the hotel credit applies only to participating luxury hotels. The list of participating properties is limited and does not include all high-end hotels.
What is the difference between this card and other premium American Express cards?
The Centurion Card is invitation-only and costs significantly more than other premium Amex cards like the Platinum Card ($695 annual fee). The Centurion offers higher credits, dedicated concierge service, and access to exclusive experiences, but the higher cost means it is only worthwhile for people with very high spending in the categories it rewards.