The new social network site, Netropolitan, dubbed as "Facebook for Rich People," launches on Tuesday and requires users fork over US$9,000 a year.

The US$9,000 covers a registration fee of US$6,000 and an annual fee of US$3,000, said Netropolitan's public relations company Media Minefield.

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After joining, users (who should be at least 21 years old) are only required to pay the annual fee.

Realizing the joining fee is a little extravagant for the likes of Facebook, Netropolitan organizers swear they aren't joking. And, it's not simply a social network site.

The new Netropolitan club tags itself as a country club exclusive "for people with more money than time."

While Facebook has a vast user base across the globe, Netropolitan is for "busy individuals, hungry for a place to communicate with like-minded people."

The company confirmed several hundred persons joined at its launch.

Apart from this, the online club did not disclose details of its user base. The club also said it will never disclose its members' identities.

But, with that high a joining fee, it narrows target users to those who have money to spend at an exclusive country club.

Its founder and former Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra conductor James Touchi-Peters said it is a venue for people to talk about things like one's "new car" or "European vacation," without unwelcome criticism from friends and followers.

Touchi-Peters might talk more about it in an interview with The Times, which is currently being arranged.

Basically, the online country club works like Facebook without the ads.

A user has a profile page and a "status wall" that lets you update what you're doing or where you are. It also lets you follow people and access friends' profiles, activities, and location.

It can't act as a "concierge service" for its users who might want a charter jet booking, for instance, the company warned.

The general public may check it out at Netropolitan.info as Netropolitan.club is password protected.

TagsNetropolitan, Media Minefield, Social network, James Touchi-Peters, club