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“I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.”
- Jackie Mason.
The widely popular and most exclusively charged Black Card, is the prestigious Centurion Card offered by American Express. The card associates a range of esteemed privileges that supports extravagance in its own way. Earlier available on invitation in United States, the Black Card is now acquirable through request and requires the card holder to meet certain strict criteria. As of 1 August, 2007, in the United States, the prerequisites included an exceptional credit history apart from a minimum annual expenditure of $250,000.
The card owes its genesis to an urban legends during the 1980s that narrates about an black-colored card used by celebrities and dignitaries, which allowed inexhaustible spending. The rumors were mere hoax, however not until American Express launched its Centurion Card in October 1999, committed to selected holders of its Platinum Card. The myth over Centurion being an unlimited spending card erupted as certain high-spending card members were given a black information card containing important telephone numbers like that of the American Express travel and concierge services.
Often encountered in the TV series and movies the Black Card enjoys an apical reputation among most elites. The card appeared with Jessica Simpson on her hit reality TV series “Newlyweds, Nick and Jessica”. Come to HBO’s prime show Entourage ‘The First Cut Is the Deepest’, Eric, Vincent, and Vince’s financial adviser discusses how Vince can’t live off his Black card. Of latest, the Bond movie Casino Royale features the Black Card being used in The Ocean Club. Entering the Club (an exclusive Bahamian resort) Bond, requests the concierge for a room without a reservation, and simply hands the concierge a black credit card.
More so, whether its music or literature the Black Card is nowhere unmentioned. Jabbing into Robert Crais new novel The Watchman, a rich businessman’s daughter is described to be owning an black Amex card. Lauren Weisberger’s novel Everyone Worth Knowing cites a co-worker of the protagonist, paying for the dinner with a black card.
Of course, the “Black Cards” – Rap group Clipse of the “Black Card Era” titled themselves after American Express Black Card. Not to forget Janet Jackson’s Amex interview comments on how would she spend on her shirt – “I don’t even know, isn’t that bad? When you sign it and walk away… that Black Card is dangerous!”
The bottom line often blares up “a limitless credit card”, not really, limits are pre-set but redefined with prodigalities. Purportedly the largest redemption with the card was the one that exceeded $30 million made for a private jet. The Black Card like any of its American Express counterparts, specifies limits that depend on the card holder’s spending history, financial resources and personal credit profile.
