The idea of Centurion being held by global moguls and UHNWs is an AX marketing strategy to drive more sales across various AX cards from providers of luxury goods and services. In travel AX was facing stiff competition from VISA and MC in the 90s with lower merchant fees and aggressive marketing. In luxury goods, particularly for high end jewelry and watches, merchants would give better prices for cash. Private jet charter companies in many cases didn't even take CCs. Centurion is merely a trojan horse designed to make these SEs believe they need to play ball with AX.