American Airlines gold status (the lowest frequent flyer status level) is not actually that generous. It's basically priority boarding, a little bit of priority on the upgrade queue (if you want to pay for the upgrade with upgrade vouchers or cash), and that's about it. Lounge access doesn't even come until platinum, one level above gold, and then only on international flights.

I'm sure he makes lots of good things happen by paying for them with his copious of miles, but it's not from the gold status :)

https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/eliteStatus/elite-benefit...