I got this card yesterday and it gives you with signup (besides the 70k in points & Free Night Stay E-Certificate in categories 1-4.):

•15 Elite credits toward your next membership level after account
approval and every year after account anniversary

- This effectively gives you free Silver Status as long as you have the card

•1 Elite credit for every $3,000 spent

- This allows you to earn up status as follows based on spend:

To Get Gold, you need 50 credits (minus the 15 you get with the card) or $105,000 in a year.

To Get Platinum (& United MileagePlus Premier Silver status), you need 75 credits (minus the 15 you get with the card) or $180,000 in a year.

Since Marriott isn't doing status challenges any more, this is pretty much the only way to get the level you're looking for short of nights in a room unless you get the $450 a year Ritz Carlton Visa, also from Chase.

The Ritz Carlton Visa will give you Gold Elite status in The Ritz-Carlton Rewards (basically Marriott Rewards) your first year and you can maintain your Gold Elite status thereafter by simply spending $10,000 your first year and each subsequent year. If you can't make the spend, it's pricey but a way to get and keep Marriott Gold.

Hope this helps!