Coming into money in GTA 5 Story Mode isn’t always akin to real life. One example includes the inability to sell cars in GTA 5, which is reserved for the online game version. Other real-life money-making schemes either don’t exist or are limited to the multiplayer version of the game. We’ll try to either skip them or mention necessary workarounds. To pique your interest, let’s just say you can flip houses to millionaire status, but not sell them. And that’s just one of many methods! With that said, let’s get into how to make money in GTA 5 Story Mode.
1. Complete assassination missions
The most profitable way to make money in GTA 5 Story Mode is accepting assassination missions from Lester. This starts with a mandatory mission named “The Hotel Assassination” as Franklin. Lester tells you to invest some money (preferably with all 3 characters) into one of the stock exchanges, LCN or BAWSAQ. Knowing which stock to invest in depends on the person (usually CEO) you’re hired to kill. And since the death directly affects his and his company counterpart, some stocks will crash, while the others skyrocket. Selling at a peak price can make you millions quickly. We’ll create a dedicated guide with tips and tricks shortly.
2. Invest in stocks
Speaking of stocks, you can invest in a wide variety of companies outside of your murderous missions. Granted, the profit won’t be nearly as high, but it’s the laziest way to line your pockets in GTA 5 Story Mode since it’s all passive income.
3. Attack armored trucks
A quick way to earn money in Story Mode of GTA 5 is to hit armored trucks carrying money. They appear at random times but in 8 general locations, giving you a chance for an ambush. After killing the driver, simply plant a Sticky Bomb to blow the back door up, netting you upward of $5k. Also, getting there early to kill the security guards bringing the money allows you to keep your Stick Bomb for methods 5 or 8.
Infinite Armored Truck money
Players discovered a glitch that uses armored trucks to make money in GTA 5 Story mode without limits. If you can steal the vehicle using Michael without firing weapons, evade the police, and park it into your garage, you’re done. Save the game, blow the backdoor with the vehicle still inside, and pick up the cash. After you return to the garage a bit later, the truck will be repaired and ready to drop another cash bag. Rinse and repeat.
4. Rob ATMs, banks, stores, corner markets
Unlike Armored Trucks, robbing an establishment is harder and can attract more law enforcement. ATMs are the simplest – wait for someone to arrive, threaten them using bare knuckles or a concealed weapon, and run away with the prize. Other types of robberies require you to walk in, threaten the clerk (s) with weapons, and intimidate them into giving up the cash faster. After you pick up the money, jump into the getaway car, and hide or run away. Be aware that the more often you do it, the higher the wanted level will be. Also, clerks might learn to carry a gun after repeated robberies.
5. Finish Random Encounters
We already taught you how to switch characters in GTA 5 so here are 3 Random Encounters featuring each one:
1. Return the bicycle
The highest-paying Random Encounter occurs when you’re close to your home as Franklin. You’ll get a text from a rich kid, owner of Animal Ark’s pet stores, whose bike was stolen. He’ll give you $100k to return it to him, which takes about 30 seconds.
2. Meet investment banker
When playing as Michael, you can meet an investment banker on a road going from Pacific Bluffs to Chumash. He only appears in the afternoon, between noon and evening, and will stand next to his broken-down car on the roadside. He’ll ask you for a ride to the airport, which you have 2 minutes to complete. Afterward, the banker will give you a tip for investing in stocks – putting money on Tinkle (TNK) on the BAWSAQ stock exchange. This will earn you a 30% profit within 24 hours of in-game time.
3. Raid the weed farm
The most profitable Random Encounter as Trevor is raiding a weed farm, named “Braddock Farms”, located north of Grapeseed and the eastern part of Mount Chiliad. You must do it on a Thursday (in-game), and can only do it once a week. After killing 6 gang members (5 outside, 1 inside), simply walk up to the briefcase on the shelf and pick it up. From our experience, you can gain between $50k and $150k. Best of all, you attract no police attention.
6. Partake in Street races
To win at street races, purchase a Coil Voltic and customize it as much as you can. It won’t be anywhere near the fastest car in GTA 5, true. But using Franklin’s special ability, slowing time while driving, allows you to excel at car racing effortlessly. Use the ability sparingly – save it for sharp corners or overtaking opponents in dense traffic.
7. Complete Heists
Want to hit the jackpot in GTA 5 Story Mode? Make sure to complete all 5 Heists available, provided by Lester, whom we mentioned already. The Heists are, in order: “The Jewel Store Job”, “The Merryweather Heist”, “The Paleto Score”, “The Bureau Raid” and “The Big Score”.
8. Become a VIP
We already discussed how to register as a VIP in GTA 5 and the benefits it carries. While gathering a crew is recommended, you can go on solo missions, too.
9. Take up a CEO position
Do you want to let others do the work while you oversee the enormous profits? Register as a CEO, then, which is one of the best ways to maximize profit in GTA 5 Story Mode. You need to be wealthy to start, but that’s a matter of time with the methods above.
10. Sell properties
As soon as you become a GTA 5 CEO, you gain the ability to sell properties in GTA 5. Or rather, flip one of the existing 6 properties for massive profits.