Glitterati are Exclusive Credit Cards.

Luxury credit cards for the rich and connected are all the rage from the Hamptons to Hollywood. And they do not just pay for dinner at New York’s swankiest restaurants or give you exclusive access to luxury rewards. These cards come with special perks, including the ability to charge a $50,000 purchase in the blink of an eye.

Reserved for the Rolex-wearing, Ferrari-driving glitterati of the world, luxury credit cards feature the latest in rewards bells and whistles, as well as exclusive lifestyle benefits. (Some of the more modest perks that these cards offer include personal shopping services at luxury retailers and complementary first class upgrades on flights.) And in case you wonder if the ultra-wealthy would even bother with earning credit card rewards, wonder no more.

“The affluent absolutely do participate in rewards credit card programs,” says Kelly Hlavinka, a Managing Partner at Colloquy, a company specializing in resources for the loyalty marketing industry. “In fact, according to Colloquy’s research, over 63% of the affluent participate in at least one rewards program with a financial services provider – compared to only 50% percent of the general population.”

In fact, notes Hlavinka, wealthy cardholders are even more likely to participate in credit and debit card rewards programs now than before the recession. The affluent participate in 9% more credit and debit rewards programs today than prior to the financial meltdown.

So if you too are in the market for a high-end credit card — or if you would simply like a glimpse into the rarefied world of luxury credit cards — here is a selection of some of the glitziest credit cards available for the wealthy elite.


American Express Centurion card

Like other cards in its category, the American Express Centurion card is available by invitation only. The American Express website is mum about the exact benefits of the card, but promises that Centurion cardholders will enjoy access to services that only a select few from around the world can enjoy.

Doesn’t sound bad at all. So, what do you get if you can afford the $2,500 annual fee, the $5,000 opening fee and the minimum $250,000 spending requirement? According to Forbes magazine, benefits include preferred pricing on luxury rental cars, access to discounts on luxury cars and lowest-price guarantees when buying through the American Express Auto Purchase program.

Other benefits include personal concierge services when traveling, invitations to exclusive arts and sporting events, access to American Express’s private yacht program, elite club memberships and special shopping privileges at exclusive stores.

The greatest benefit by far? According to one commenter on Forbes.com: “That you can flash your titanium card and impress other people next to you — unless you live in LA or NYC. There are so many Centurions in those cities that you’d think they were standard issued along with a Mercedes and BMW.”


Coutts World card

For those Mercedes and BMW-driving New Yorkers (and anyone else) who want an extra edge, the Coutts World card is said to be the most prestigious credit card of all. For starters, Coutts itself is so exclusive that the main feature of the ‘About’ section on the bank’s website is a family tree of the principals, dating back to 1712. And, yes, you guessed it: Coutts offers banking services and wealth management services to a very select world elite, including the Queen of England.

Special benefits of the Coutts World card include a rewards program for luxury purchases, priority access to exclusive airport lounges and a personal concierge to assist with travel arrangements, yacht chartering and ticketing for sports and arts events. In addition, the Coutts personal concierge can also help with organizing exclusive shopping session and, should the need arise, with “sourcing domestic staff, including cleaners, gardeners and nannies,” according to the card website.


Visa Black card

Issued by Barclays, the Visa Black card is billed as “the world’s most prestigious and versatile credit card.” According to the TV ad featured at the Black card website, that includes covering the services you need when you feel like diving into the ocean from a helicopter (the versatile services in this case being the helicopter and lots of cool dudes in black standing by with fresh, dry towels … Hey, a girl could get used to that kind of life.)

For those less fond of swimming, the card offers similar benefits as other luxury credit cards, including exclusive 24-hour concierge service, VIP airport lounge access, entertainment planning, business services, luxury gifts and, of course, limited membership.

Prefer a MasterCard? The World Elite MasterCard is MasterCard’s answer to the Visa Black card, offering very similar features with “a personalized service that can help you experience life’s most memorable moments.”


U.S. Bank Stratus Rewards White card

Where there’s a Black card, sooner or later there will be a White card as well. The U.S. Bank Stratus Rewards White card bills itself as the card for those who like to live life to the fullest, or more specifically, at 40,000 feet. This is the card for those who are ready to chuck “the mundane, the pedestrian and the unromantic” and who share a passion for “a privileged lifestyle.” What’s not to like?

Of all the luxury cards, the Stratus Rewards White card puts the greatest emphasis on branding itself as a “lifestyle enrichment” card, offering by-invitation only access to some of the world’s most exclusive niche lifestyle clubs. In addition to life-inspiring experiences, rewards points earned with the card can be redeemed for private jet travel, rare auction items or “difficult to obtain” items.

Membership is set at an annual fee of $1,500 and available only by nomination from partners of the Stratus Rewards or through the recommendation of someone who is already a member.

In short, when it comes to credit card perks, life is good for the rich and connected. Meanwhile, for the rest of us, take heart. You don’t have to have a million-dollar-plus net worth or shell out a $2,500 annual fee to find credit cards that offer at least similar benefits. You can find personal concierge services and access to exclusive events, global travel assistance and extended purchase protection on a number of credit cards, including those without an entry fee.