How to Make Money

To make the most of your Grand Theft Auto V experience tuning up cars, loading up on weapons, and buying the properties you want, you're going to need a lot of money. Learn more about completing heists, manipulating the stock market during Lester's assassination missions, robbing armored trucks, and other ways to make money fast in GTA 5!

How to Make Money in Story Mode

Manipulate the Stock Market During Lester's Assassination Missions

The Hotel Assassination is the first mission where Lester will task you with assassinating a person of interest. After completing this mission from the main story, he will intermittenly offer you other assassinations to complete.

Although you can earn a decent chunk of change for completing these missions, the real money comes from buying a particular stock and then selling it when the price skyrockets. Listen to Lester's dialogues for advice on which stock to buy and sell.

Although the Hotel Assassination mission must be completed to advance the story, it's recommended that you wait until later in the game or even in the post-game when you have more money to invest in the stock market to complete the remaining assassination side missions.

To start earning big bucks from Lester's assassinations, follow these steps:

1. Activate the mission, but don't start it yet.
2. Open up the internet browser on your phone and buy the stock in the Invest in before column for all three characters.
3. Complete the assassination mission.
4. Sell the stock you've purchased with all three characters once it's hit its peak Return Percentage (listed under Sell at).
5. Reinvest in the stock listed under Invest in after for all three characters.
6. Once that stock has reached its peak Return Percentage (Sell at), sell it with all three characters. Note that it can take some time to for stocks to reach their peak, so it's recommended to rest at a safehouse to pass the time, then keep checking the stock market.

The Hotel Assassination

Invest in before	Sell at	Invest in after	Sell at
Betta Pharmaceuticals (BAWSAQ)	50%	Bilkinton Research (LCN)	Up to 200%

The Multi Target Assassination

Invest in before	Sell at	Invest in after	Sell at
Debonaire (LCN)	90%	Redwood Cigarettes (LCN)	300-400%

The Vice Assassination

Invest in before	Sell at	Invest in after	Sell at
Fruit Computers (BAWSAQ)	60%	Facade (BAWSAQ)	Up to 40%

The Bus Assassination

Invest in before	Sell at	Invest in after	Sell at
-	-	Vapid (BAWSAQ)	100%

The Construction Assassination

Invest in before	Sell at	Invest in after	Sell at
Gold Coast (LCN)	80%	-	-

Note that Return Percentages are approximate and vary depending on which edition of GTA you're playing. In general, you may see lower Return Percentages if you're playing on PS4 or XBOne as compared with PS3 and Xbox 360.

Complete Heists

Heists are missions from the main story with potential for big payouts depending on the approach and crew you choose to bring along.

The Jewel Store Job

After completing the Casing the Jewel Store mission, Lester will have you make plans for The Jewel Store Job. Make the following choices for the biggest profit:

Recommended Approach	Smart
Recommended Crew	Karim Denz, Packie McCreary, and Rickie Lukens
Payout	$1.2 million (Michael), $300k (Franklin)

The Merryweather Heist

As this heist doesn't reward you with any money, whether you choose the Offshore or Freighter route will have the same result.

Recommended Approach	Either
Recommended Crew	N/A
Payout	$0

The Paleto Score

With this heist, you want to be careful not to get shot in the back, as you'll lose money each time this happens. If you decide to go with Norm as your gunman, make sure to pick up his share as Michael or Trevor after he drops it to increase your overall take.

Recommended Approach	N/A
Recommended Crew	Norm Richards
Payout	~$440,000 per character

The Bureau Raid

To unlock Taliana Martinez, the best driver, you'll first need to complete her random encounter. She can be found on the highway near Mount Chiliad next to a burning car. If you return her to her safehouse, she will be available later on for the Burea Raid mission as a driver.

Recommended Approach	Rooftop Entry
Recommended Crew	Rickie Lukens, Taliana Martinez, and Daryl Johns
Payout	$242,349 (Franklin)

The Big Score

Recommended Approach	Obvious Way
Recommended Crew	Taliana Martinez (Driver 1), Karim Denz (Driver 2), Hugh Welsh (Gunman 1), Daryl Johns (Gunman 2)
Payout	$41,664,000 per character

Buy Businesses

One way to earn easy money in GTA 5 is to set up a passive income stream by buying a business. Most business are available early on in the game after completing the Nervous Ron mission. Businesses cost quite a bit of money, which can be scarce early on, so knowing which properties give the best return on investment is important.

Best Businesses to Buy

Rob Armored Trucks

In the early game, when money is tight, robbing armored trucks is a way to make a quick buck. These are available after completing the Pulling Favors Strangers and Freaks side mission. First, you'll need to take out the guards driving the truck, then blast open the back doors to reveal the cash ($3,000). It's recommended that you use sticky bombs to get the doors open quickly, as your wanted level will go up two stars once you attack the guards, but you can also shoot the doors open if you aim for the middle.

Armored trucks are green and white and appear as light-blue dots on the map when they're nearby. The can spawn in fixed locations, but they may drive by you as well.

Rob People at ATMs

Look for people using ATMs scattered throughout Los Santos, particularly in front of banks and at gas stations, for a chance to earn some pocket change. You may only get a couple hundred bucks per person, but if you're short on cash, robbing pedestrians who've just used the ATM can get you through the early game. Simply wait until the NPC has finished using the ATM, knock them out or kill them, then pick up the money they drop.

Compete in Street Races

After completing the Shift Work Strangers and Freaks side mission as Franklin, you'll be able to compete in races, pay an entry fee, and possibly win back more money.

It's recommended that you find a fast sports car and tune it up at one of the body shops around town to improve your chances of winning the races.

City Circuit

Entry Fee	Prize Money
$500	$2250

Airport

Entry Fee	Prize Money
$1000	$4500

Freeway

Entry Fee	Prize Money
$1250	$5625

Vespucci Canals

Entry Fee	Prize Money
$1500	$6750

Is There a Money Cheat?

There is No Money Cheat

Unfortunately, there is no cheat code in GTA 5 to get infinite money.

If you're having trouble earning money the old fashioned ways like robbing armored vehicles and sticking up people at ATMs, there are plenty of other cheat codes to help you make this easier.

List of All Cheats for PS4, PS5, and PC

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List of All Cheats for PS4, PS5, and PC	How to Decrease Your Wanted Level
How to Level Up Skills	How to Make Money
Best Businesses to Buy	How to Change Characters