The Centurion Card is invitation-only and costs $10,000 per year, plus $5,000 annually for each additional cardholder

American Express does not advertise the Centurion Card or let you request one. You receive an invitation based on your spending history and account relationship with American Express — typically after spending $250,000 or more per year across your cards, though the exact threshold is not public. Once invited, the annual fee is $10,000 for the primary cardholder, with an additional $5,000 per year for each supplementary cardholder you add.

The card itself is metal, black, and carries no preset spending limit. American Express reviews your account individually to determine how much you can charge. This is different from other premium cards, which publish their limits upfront. The card is designed for people whose spending patterns are already well-known to American Express and whose income or assets make a high limit routine.

Key Takeaways

  • The Centurion Card costs $10,000 annually and is available by invitation only, not through a standard process process.
  • You earn 1 point per dollar on most purchases, with higher earning rates on specific categories like air travel (3 points per dollar) and certain hotels (4 points per dollar).
  • The card includes a personal concierge service, travel credits, and various insurance protections, but these benefits do not offset the annual fee for most cardholders.
  • Competing cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Visa Infinite cards offer similar travel benefits at lower annual costs.
  • The card's real value lies in status and the relationship with American Express, not in the rewards or benefits alone.

Rewards structure and earning rates

The Centurion Card earns 1 point per dollar on most purchases. Certain categories earn more: 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, and 4 points per dollar at hotels participating in the Fine Hotels + Resorts program. Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

Points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or statement credits. The value of a point varies depending on how you redeem it. Booking travel through American Express Travel typically yields the highest redemption value — often 1.5 to 2 cents per point — while statement credits are usually worth 1 cent per point. The card does not offer bonus points for new cardholders or category bonuses that rotate quarterly.

Because the annual fee is $10,000, you would need to earn at least that much in value from rewards and benefits to break even. For most cardholders, this requires either very high spending or strategic use of the card's travel credits and concierge services.

Travel benefits and credits

The Centurion Card includes $200 in annual airline fee credits. You can use this toward baggage fees, seat upgrades, or other incidental charges with any airline. The credit posts once per calendar year and does not roll over if unused. You must charge the airline fee to the Centurion Card for the credit to explore.

The card also includes access to American Express's Fine Hotels + Resorts program, which offers room upgrades, late checkout, and other perks at participating luxury hotels worldwide. You book through American Express Travel to receive these benefits. The card covers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, and emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling outside your home country.

A personal concierge service is available 24/7 to book travel, make restaurant reservations, arrange event tickets, or handle other requests. The concierge does not charge fees for these services, though you pay for the actual bookings or reservations. This service is one of the few benefits that has real value for high-spending cardholders who travel frequently and value time savings.

Purchase protections and insurance coverage

The Centurion Card includes purchase protection that covers items you buy against theft or damage for 90 days. The coverage limit is typically $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. This is standard across premium American Express cards and does not justify the $10,000 annual fee on its own.

Extended warranty protection doubles the manufacturer's warranty on may be able to access items for up to one additional year. Return protection allows you to return items within 90 days for a refund if the merchant will not accept the return. These protections are valuable if you make large purchases regularly, but they are also available on other American Express cards at lower annual costs.

The card includes primary auto rental collision damage waiver, which means American Express's insurance covers damage to a rental car if you charge the full rental to the Centurion Card. This can save you money on rental car insurance, but only if you rent cars frequently enough to offset the annual fee.

Comparing the Centurion Card to other premium cards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $550 per year and earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining, plus 1 point per dollar on other purchases. It includes a $300 annual travel credit and trip cancellation insurance. For cardholders who spend $100,000 to $200,000 per year, the Sapphire Reserve often delivers better value because the annual fee is lower and the earning rates are higher in common spending categories.

Visa Infinite cards, issued by various banks, typically cost between $400 and $800 per year and include concierge services, travel insurance, and lounge access. Some Visa Infinite cards offer higher earning rates on specific categories than the Centurion Card does. The choice between these cards depends on your spending patterns and which benefits you actually use.

The Centurion Card's advantage is not rewards or benefits — it is status and the relationship it signals with American Express. The card is rare, and American Express markets it as a symbol of financial achievement. If you value that status and can afford the $10,000 annual fee without considering the rewards and benefits, the card may make sense. If you are evaluating it purely on financial return, other cards usually offer better value.

Who should consider the Centurion Card

The Centurion Card makes financial sense only for people who spend at least $500,000 per year and use the card's benefits actively. This includes frequent international travelers who use the concierge service regularly, people who stay at Fine Hotels + Resorts properties multiple times per year, and those who can maximize the airline fee credit. Even then, the card's value depends on how much you would spend on these services anyway.

For most high-income earners, the card is a status symbol rather than a financial tool. American Express knows this and markets it accordingly. If you receive an invitation and are considering it, calculate whether the rewards, credits, and insurance protections would save you more than $10,000 per year. If the answer is no, the card is not a sound financial decision, regardless of your income.

How to receive an invitation

American Express sends Centurion Card invitations to select cardholders based on their spending, account history, and relationship with the company. There is no public threshold, but consistent reports suggest that spending $250,000 or more per year across American Express cards increases the likelihood of an invitation. Holding multiple American Express cards and maintaining a long account history also helps.

You cannot request an invitation directly. If you contact American Express and ask about the Centurion Card, they will not offer it to you. Invitations come unsolicited, usually via mail or email. If you receive one and are unsure whether to accept, review your actual spending on travel, dining, and other categories where the card offers higher earning rates or credits. Compare that to the $10,000 annual fee and decide whether the benefits justify the cost in your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Centurion Card and the American Express Platinum Card?

The Platinum Card costs $695 per year and is open to anyone who meets American Express's credit standards. The Centurion Card costs $10,000 per year and is invitation-only. The Centurion Card includes a higher airline fee credit ($200 vs. $200 on Platinum), access to Fine Hotels + Resorts, and a personal concierge. The Platinum Card includes lounge access and other benefits. For most cardholders, the Platinum Card offers better value.

Can I transfer Centurion Card points to airline or hotel loyalty programs?

Yes. Centurion Card points can be transferred to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio. This can increase the value of your points if you have elite status with those programs or plan to use the points for premium redemptions. Check American Express's current transfer partners before opening the card.

Does the Centurion Card have a spending minimum?

No. American Express does not publish a minimum spending requirement for the Centurion Card. However, the card is designed for people who already spend very heavily with American Express. If your spending drops significantly after receiving the card, American Express may not renew your invitation when the annual fee comes due.

What happens if I cannot afford the annual fee one year?

You can close the card at any time. If you close it before the annual fee posts, you will not be charged. If the fee has already posted and you close the card, American Express may refund the fee if you close the card within a short window — typically 30 days — but this is not may provide. Contact American Express directly to ask about their policy.

Is the Centurion Card worth it if I only travel occasionally?

No. The $10,000 annual fee is difficult to justify unless you travel frequently, stay at luxury hotels regularly, or use the concierge service often. If you travel a few times per year, a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum Card will deliver better value at a lower annual cost.