Urban legends of a special, black-colored card offering dignitaries and celebrities unlimited spending power and after-hours access to high-end stores circulated in the 1980s. While the rumors were false, in October 1999 American Express decided to capitalize on them by launching the Centurion Card.

Customers have been known to purchase Bentley automobiles with just a swipe of the card. Centurion holders have also made purchases well in excess of $1 million USD without even a credit check. The popular myth is that the card has no limit; the largest purchase supposedly ever made on it exceeded $30 million–for a private jet.

Source: Wikipedia