Think money can’t buy you the world? Think again

• Image Credit: Corbis
• The most influential logos in the world of banking, privilege programmes and luxury personal concierge services can open doors you never had access to

Exclusivity is all about a discreet flash, a subtle swipe and a quick glimpse of some of the most influential logos in the world of banking, privilege programmes and luxury personal concierge services. These are the cards that say you’ve made it.

American Express Centurion: Considered an urban legend because it is so rare, the ultimate black card has a joining fee of $5,000 (Dh18,360) and an annual fee of $2,500. The kicker is that it’s by invitation only. And to get invited, you have to have a minimum spend of $250,000 a year, an exceptional credit rating, and already be an American Express Platinum card holder.

AmEx Platinum: So you have to wait a while for the black, but for $450 a year, you get to hold a card that can literally save your life. One of the most sought-after perks of the Platinum card is the emergency medical evacuation service. Apart from that, you’ll have premium lounge access, airline points, VIP passes to all the biggest gigs around the world and other juicy perks.

Dubai First Royale MasterCard: It is the region’s first diamond-embedded MasterCard credit card. By invitation only, the current cardholders are a very select group, including royalty and business tycoons. Benefits include no spending limit, travel perks, a relationship manager and up to 4 per cent cashback.

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J.P. Morgan Palladium: Bloom-berg referred to this as the credit card for the “1 per cent of the 1 per cent”. The card is made from palladium and 23-karat gold. It was the first US card to feature a smart chip, and benefits include concierge services, airport lounge privileges and access to luxury hotels. In return, all you need to do is have J.P. Morgan Chase manage your $25 million.

Stratus Rewards Visa: The White Card is as difficult to get as the Centurion and belongs to the by-invitation-only club. You need to cough up an annual fee of $1,500 and spend at least $100,000 a year. And the Stratus Rewards Visa is even more rare than the Centurion from AmEx.

Quintessentially Lifestyle: It’s very likely that if you are as rich as Croesus, you won’t have time to handle the mundanities of life, which is where premium concierge firm Quintessentially Lifestyle steps in. This UK-based luxury members-only concierge club is capable of fulfilling the craziest requests and the most unreasonable demands. The likes of Madonna, Lakshmi Mittal, Mick Jagger and Gwyneth Paltrow have reportedly used its services.

Skywards Platinum: After all that globetrotting, if you’ve clocked 150,000 tier miles with Emirates, expect to get upgraded to the new Skywards Platinum status, reserved for only the most frequent of frequent flyers. In addition to all the benefits of Skywards Gold, Platinum members get extra benefits, such as first class check-in and baggage delivery, access to the Emirates First Class lounge in Dubai and Emirates lounges across the network, 75 per cent bonus Skywards Miles when flying with Emirates, Gold Partner card for a spouse or partner, guaranteed Business Class revenue seats, last seat flex reward tickets even on high-demand flights, and 20 kg 
of extra luggage allowance, regardless of which class you’re flying.

Marquis Jet Card: When time is money, you need to be able to whizz around the world in comfort and on a flight that leaves when you want it to. The answer is private jets. NetJets, a company that deals with ownership and rental of private business jets, issues this card that is aimed at people who fly less than 50 hours per year and prefer a short-term commitment.

The World’s Finest Clubs: They say the only way to live life is to work hard and party harder. With an annual fee of about $2,500, this card is your key to a network of the world’s most exclusive clubs, hotels and restaurants, including the Armani Privé in Milan, the Avenue, New York, and Dubai’s Cavalli Club and Cirque Du Soir. Benefits include free access to all clubs in the network, including access to VIP areas, 24-hour concierge service, special rates at five-star hotels and invitations to exclusive parties.

The PrivatSea Club: The card offers individual and corporate members access to the club’s exclusive fleet of mega yachts along with preferential rates with partners including selective private clubs, premium private residences, exclusive events, private jets, limousine services and unrivalled flexibility in yacht usage in terms of itineraries, cruise durations, and yacht availability.