In Philadelphia earlier this month rapper Beanie Siegel (who is signed to Jay-Z’s label and has a clothing line) had a bad day. A really bad day. He surrendered in Philadelphia to face charges in a dispute that erupted over his rental car.

The rapper's real name is Dwight Grant and his bad luck started when he rented a 2007 Nissan Altima from Payless Car Rental in July. Only Siegel did not bring the car back on time or contact the rental car company. Payless Car Rental continued to charge the rapper’s credit card for payments and reported the car as stolen over a month later on Sept. 6.

The car was miraculously returned overnight night just as detectives went to Grant’s house to arrest him. He had accumulated over $5,000 in late fees!

Prosecuters dropped the charges against Siegel after he paid the $5000 in late fees and an employee from Payless Car Rental told the court there had been a misunderstanding.

Forbes recently published an intriguing look at the new trend and ultimate status symbols of wealth and power, luxury credit cards. Let's take a look at a few they compiled:

Coutts & Co.'s World Card

The bank to the queen, now a part of Royal Bank of Scotland Group, has arguably the most prestigious card of all. World Card is offered only to Coutts clients, and you have to have millions to qualify for that status to begin with. Aside from all the typical travel upgrades and luxury services, the card comes in handy when you need to go shopping at your favorite department store in the middle of the night. A quick call to a World Card service representative will arrange a private after-hours shopping session anywhere your little heart desires.

Stratus Rewards Visa

The "white card" is for people who aren't impressed by special airport traveler lounges and upgrades to first class on—gasp—commercial airlines, people who will only go by private jet. Lucky, then, that Stratus (a division of Los Angeles-based Pro Sports & Entertainment) is a partner with Marquis Jet. US Bancorp in Minneapolis issues the card, which offers all sorts of other perks, such as personal shoppers, Abercrombie & Kent safaris and gift bags that rival those given out at the Oscars.

American Express Centurion

You have to spend at least $250,000 a year to even qualify for this card, but getting one puts you up there with celebrities and fellow rich folks. You get access to private jets or upgrades on regular airlines, hotel upgrades, a personal travel counselor, and all sorts of freebies and loyalty programs that are also available to AmEx's lowly Platinum cardholders.

Citibank Ultima

This card is offered in Germany, Russia, Asia and parts of the Middle East and promises perks like travel in a private Gulfstream jet or a chauffeured Bentley, and the chance to rent a Ferretti 80-foot yacht with crew and pilot for a day at sea, or a Maserati Spyder for a 48-hour joyride. You can even book a private island with it. A similar card, the Diners Club Elite card, also issued by Citi, offers residents of the United Arab Emirates such perks as a one-on-one session with chef Harald Wohlfahrt, hard-to-get tickets to football games (that's soccer in the U.S.) and the ability to lease a private jet with ten hours' notice.

Smith Barney Chairman MasterCard

This is for private clients of Citi's brokerage network who have at least $1 million at the firm, but $5 million will get you more perks. The Chairman's card gives points for purchases and tosses in free companion tickets for travelers who buy full-fare airline tickets. If you pay for a private jet with your card, you get a three-night stay (up to a $900 value) at a partner hotel.

Merrill +

This is part of the "Total Merrill" program the brokerage has debuted in an effort to capture a larger share of your spending and investing money. The card offers a credit line up to $250,000 and a variety of airline and hotel upgrades and packages, membership in a wine club and personal shopping services for the harried executive.

Neiman Marcus In-Circle

The Dallas-based luxury retailer famous for its Christmas catalog sold its credit cards division to HSBC last year, but it still offers a rewards program to loyal cardholders who spend lots of money in its stores (or those of its sister, Bergdorf Goodman). In-Circle's entry point is 5,000 points (meaning you've spent $5,000 on your card in the last year), but perks balloon as you go up the food chain. This year, 50,000 points gets you a Sony Vaio FS series notebook; 300,000 earns you a trip to Italy with a custom gentleman's shoe fitting by Ferragamo or a trip to New York for Fashion Week. Two million points puts you behind the scenes on the set of daytime TV drama The Young and the Restless. You know, with all your free time watching this soap eating chocolate bon bons and sipping champagne might as well see it taped in person.

Ahhh...money is such a terrible thing to waste. 

Not to be outdone by the outrageous reputation of wealth and prestige that accompanies the Black American Express Card, Citibank offers its own version to the credit card to rival all cards.

The Citibank Ultima Visa Card

The Citibank Ultima is Citibank’s answer to the Black American Express card. It too, is...black. With perks like access to private Gulfstream jet and the option to rent an 80-foot yacht complete with crew, it understandably coveted.

Here is the list of never-ending perks! 

Membership of the Citibank Ultima Card is strictly by invitation only, and opens the door to the exclusive Citibank Ultima Privileges, where a host of personalized luxury services is just a telephone call away. From the comfort of their home or office, all cardmembers need to do is to call the Citibank Ultima Card dedicated hotline to be pampered with the following indulgences:
 
• Ultimate Rejuvenation
Keen on a rejuvenating getaway? The Citibank Ultima Card provides a complimentary 2D/1N Villa stay for two, with a free round of golf on a world-class 18-hole golf course, spa vouchers and unlimited use of the sauna, Jacuzzi, steam bath, swimming pool and tennis facilities at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand.
 
• Luxury Travel
Cardmembers enjoy exclusive complimentary 1-For-1 companion Singapore Airlines Business Class air tickets, and complimentary hotel room upgrades and privileges at Raffles International Hotels & Resorts, and Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts.
 
Additionally, cardmembers can rest in luxurious comfort while in flight transit, as they are given complimentary access to VIP lounges at over 450 airports around the world.
 
• Ultimate Indulgence
Private Jet: Cardmembers will have the indulgence of enjoying special rates and guaranteed availability of a private jet anytime and anywhere they want go. In addition, a complimentary limousine service for both the start and the end of the plane ride is at their disposal.
 
Ferretti 80-foot luxury yacht: Cardmembers have exclusive use of a Ferretti 80-foot (approximately 24 meters) luxury yacht, the only one of its kind in Singapore, complete with a pilot and crew for a full day at sea.
 
Maserati 4200 Spyder: For those with a penchant for speed and fast cars, they have 48-hour use of a Maserati 4200 Spyder sportscar on Singapore roads at a special rate.
 
Bentley: For convenience and sheer luxury, cardmembers enjoy exclusive use of a chauffer-driven Bentley limousine throughout the day until midnight.
 
• Ultima Rewards
Ultima Rewards points are evergreen, with no expiry date. With these Rewards points, cardmembers redeem them for any gift they desire from anywhere in the world. All they need is to call the Citibank Ultima Card hotline to convey their request, and Citibank will source the gift for them and arrange for personal delivery.
 
• 24/7 Ultima Personal Assistant Services
Time Savers: Cardmembers are given the convenience of a wide range of on-demand personal services at just a telephone call away. From the Citibank Ultima Card hotline, they can order a personal masseuse or personal trainer to come to their doorstep, request for someone to collect their laundry or even do their grocery shopping.
 
Home Assistance: Complimentary services such as laundry, plumbing, pest control and locksmith services help cardmembers maintain a luxurious home.
 
Auto Services: Experience an unexpected car breakdown? Hassle-free complimentary car maintenance services, such as vehicle towing and replacement, are at hand through the Citibank Ultima Card hotline.
 
• Ultimate Privileges
Retail/Shopping: Cardmembers enjoy discounts and special prices on designer apparel, jewellery, accessories, cosmetics, homeware and electronic items at choice luxury brand outlets, as well as personal wellness, beauty and healthcare services.
 
Lifestyle: Golfing fans have a wide choice of special holiday packages and green fees at premier golf resorts in the United Kingdom, Australia and Asia.
 
Fine Dining: Complimentary bottles of wine, priority reservations and free parking benefits await cardmembers at the finest gourmet restaurants in Singapore.
 
• CitiGold Wealth Management Banking
All cardmembers enjoy complimentary CitiGold Wealth Management Banking Relationship Management services to personally assist them in their investments and personal finances.
 
The annual fee for the principal Citibank Ultima Card is S$2,000, and comes with two free supplementary Citibank Ultima Cards. New cardmembers enjoy a welcome gift either 135,000 complimentary Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles (equivalent to a return Singapore Airlines Business Class air ticket to New York) or a state-of-the-art Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 1 music system.

There is a special credit card reserved only for the über rich and über famous that few average Joe’s know about - the “Black American Express Card” – also referred to as the Centurion Card. This card has been the stuff of legends for years.  

First off, the black card is not made out of plastic. No, this card serves as a discreet marker for the fantastically wealthy and is made from anodized titanium. The average rich person cannot get this card. This card used to be available by invite only. The invitees had to have held an American Express Platinum Card for at least one year and are required to spend at least $250,000 on their Black Amex annually. It has been reported that the first card issued went to Italian Princess Dionne Leslie.

If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it. But, just in case you were wondering there is a one-time initial fee of $5,000 and annual fee of $2,500 to get the card. Perks include private shopping sprees, dedicated concierge and travel services Unlike other credit cards, rumor has it that this card has few to no spending limits. The highest purchase reported was $30 million for a private jet.

The Black Card is reserved for the wealthiest and most privileged, like a special club just for sheiks and princesses. Members of this mysterious group pursue unique access to extraordinary experiences including tickets to sold-out shows, games, and concerts with advances seating in the finest sections. Owners of an American Express Black Card get whatever they desire.

Brittney Spears reportedly gave Kevin Federline a black Amex card, with which he ran around furiously shopping for new Ferraris with. Jessica Simpson was shown to have lost hers momentarily on her television series “Newlyweds.”