Normal Fees for various NRA Memberships are as follows:
Life: $1000
Endowment: $2000
Patron: $3500
Benefactor: $5000
Upgrades from lower level of membership credit the cost of the lower membership to the cost of the next higher one. So a life member upgrading to Endowment would pay an additional $1000, not the full $2000.
The “only” benefits I can think of for higher level of membership are a supposed guarranteed invite to the bigwig NRA events, bragging rights of course, and a feeling of satisfaction on providing the Association with more financial support to fight those totalitarian running dogs in Washington.
Obviously, a discount to $200 for upgrade from Life to Endowment means you get bragging rights to both the higher level membership, and for saving 80% of the cost; not an inconsiderable factor when explaining to your significant other what you spent the money on. ;-)
The Life membership is also discounted to $300