First of all - most such people don’t use credit cards, they are not required to use credit cards. Credit cards are for those people who can’t pay instantly or don’t want to pay instantly. I am very sure that such people mostly don’t use debit cards as well. Most of the visits of the industrialist are official visits, other than the holiday trips. You can’t imagine Mukesh Ambani swiping his card to pay for bills. They have people to take care of such trivial jobs. His office takes care of everything. Wherever he or his family goes everything is pre-arranged by the staff attending to him personally. He just needs to mention his itinerary, and everything else gets arranged. His personal office just needs to pass on the instructions to the respective offices.
Ambani travel by his personal jet, how could you think that he would use his card? He wouldn’t be having any card at all. If he wants to do some window shopping, he simply needs to choose the item, the rest is taken care of by his staff. However, I doubt that he has time to waste on window shopping. Everything must be coming to his office. He will simply order his staff about what he is looking for, they will gather all the information and present it in front of him just to make the choice. Ambani just has to give instructions even for very large deals. He personally comes into the picture or signs when it comes to ultra-large deals like the deal with Google.
Let me share a personal experience. Some 23-24 years back I had the opportunity to be with one of the directors (Godrej family member) of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. Before I narrate the story, let me say a little about Godrej as most Indians do not know the actual worth of Godrej's family. Godrej & Boyce ( G&B) is one of the largest and richest privately held business conglomerates in India, which means G&B the flagship company established in 1897 is not listed on the stock exchange – means no share sold. G&B owns a few thousand acres of land in Mumbai alone. It was G&B which supplied 12.83 lakh ballot boxes for India's first general elections in 1951. Most of Godrej's operations are not in the public domain. Godrej closely works with ISRO and the Défense organizations. It manufactures the GSLV / PSLV rocket engine which takes the satellites into geostationary orbits, It manufactures the Brahmos Missiles the fastest cruise missile in the world. Godrej exports its products to over 80 countries of the world and it has business establishments in many countries of the world. However, they are very media-shy and stay away from politics. A few years back Godrej family casually bought the bungalow of Dr Homi J Bhabha, father of India's atomic energy program, who lived for years — for a price of Rs 372 crore outbidding Ajay Piramal. This is without any commercial interest as the property can not be developed even. Since the bungalow with a built-up space of 17,550 sq ft on south Mumbai's Malabar Hill is a heritage property.
Hope you would now consider a Godrej director qualified enough to be a decent industrialist. Coming back to the story – I had the opportunity to be with him for 2 to 3 hours during one of his visits to a particular state capital. His visit was absolutely personal, however the local Godrej office took care of everything – his travel, stay, vehicles, even some cash should he need something. His Mumbai office was coordinating everything and passing instruction to the local office. He stayed for around two weeks in that state in pursuance of some research work. During the entire duration of his stay and travel through the states necessary support was kept ready at all points. And I am talking about a period when mobile phones were not there. But the Company’s local office made sure to put people in place who would be constantly in touch with him, keeping district administration informed about his whereabouts should there be any need.
If this be so for a director, not even the MD or chairman of the organization, just think what kind of attention Mukesh Ambani would be paid wherever in the world he goes. No, he doesn’t need a card.
Film stars like SRK or Salman’s abroad visits are mostly sponsored. And even if not sponsored, these trips are well-planned and preorganized. Their managers arrange everything in advance in coordination with the local agents. If some payments are to be made for some purchase, the local agents would take care of it. I do not think SRK, Salman, or Amitabh swiped their cards for any payment. However, it is possible that they may have some special cards.
Following are some exclusive premium credit cards that are issued only on invitation and only if you meet certain requirements (like, say, being ultra-rich). They come with top-tier perks, including personal concierge services, and top-tier annual fees, some as high as $5,000.
Centurion® Card from American Express: Initiation fee $10000, annual fee $5000. you’ll need to charge between $250,000 and $450,000 per year on your current Amex cards. (A mere $20,000 per month!)
J.P. Morgan Reserve Card: Rumor has it you’ll need at least $10 million under J.P. Morgan’s asset management to get your hands on an invite.
Citi Chairman: Most sources say you must use Citigroup’s private bank to be eligible. To be honest, it’s probably one of those things where if you have to ask, you don’t qualify. Rumored perks include a $300,000 credit limit.
Dubai First Royale Mastercard: Dubai First Royale Mastercard, which is trimmed in gold and has a .235-carat diamond on the front. According to the bank’s website, it’s “desired by many but attainable by only a select few.” To get invited, you may need to live in the UAE, and you probably need a high net worth. You’re also welcome if you’re a member of the UAE royal family. The card doesn’t have any pre-set limit. As one of the bank’s executives promised: “You ask for the moon and we try and get it.”
Stratus Rewards Visa: If you don’t have your own private jet (you pauper!), this “white card” might be the one for you. It’s rumoured that you must spend at least $100,000 per year to nab an invite.
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