IU (Lee Ji Eun) has stunned fans and industry insiders with her remarkable earnings, surpassing 30 billion KRW (roughly 22 million USD) last year, which has piqued intense curiosity about her spending habits.
A recent audit report revealed that EDAM Entertainment, IU’s agency, spent an astounding 33.6 billion KRW (around 24.5 million USD) in service fees for the multi-talented artist in 2023. This massive figure reflects the revenue generated from IU’s impressive portfolio, which includes her work in dramas, endorsements, music, and live performances. The sum is record-breaking for a single artist in South Korea, solidifying IU’s reputation as a true entertainment powerhouse.
But what’s grabbing even more attention is IU’s access to one of the world’s most coveted status symbols: the American Express Centurion Card, commonly known as the Black Card.
This isn’t just any credit card. The Centurion Card is the ultimate in luxury, available only to the top 0.001% of the global elite, those who are invited to apply. In South Korea, only a handful of A-list celebrities, including IU and BLACKPINK’s Lisa, are known to have one. On the global stage, it’s the card of choice for moguls and superstars like former U.S. President Donald Trump, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and hip-hop icon Jay-Z, earning it a reputation as the legendary card.
The Centurion Card has reached new heights with the recent announcement by Hyundai Card that the exclusive card will now be officially available in South Korea. With an annual fee of approximately 7 million KRW (5,123 USD), this card is for the financially elite, certainly not for the faint of wallet. What truly sets the Centurion Card apart, however, is the bespoke service it offers. Cardholders enjoy a concierge who caters to their every luxury need, from arranging first-class travel and five-star hotel stays to providing access to exclusive shopping experiences.
