Making Money in Story Mode
Money in Grand Theft Auto V’s story mode buys everything that makes San Andreas fun: properties, supercars, aircraft, weapons and full upgrades at Los Santos Customs. But there is no cheat for cash, and early on all three protagonists are surprisingly broke. Here is how money actually flows in story mode and the smartest ways to build a fortune.
- Heists, especially The Big Score
- The stock market, boosted by Lester’s assassination missions
- Properties that pay regular income
- Side activities, races, random events and Strangers and Freaks missions
Why You Are Broke at First
The early story keeps money tight on purpose. Franklin starts with little, and even after the first heist, the payouts are split between the crew and the protagonists. That changes as the heists get bigger. By the end of the story, each character can be wealthy enough to buy almost anything, especially if they invested wisely along the way.
Heists: The Big Payouts
Each heist pays out based on the approach, the crew and how well the job goes. Crew members with smaller cuts leave more for you, and building up their experience on earlier heists lets you hire them for later jobs and keep more for yourself. The Big Score is by far the largest payday, and it is the foundation of every serious fortune in the game. For tips on picking approaches and crew, see The Five Heists and Their Approaches.
Tip: A crew member’s cut comes off the top of the take. Experienced lower-cut hires can save you a large share of the biggest heist.
The Stock Market
The stock market is where small fortunes become huge ones. Each character can invest through the in-game internet, and certain story events move specific companies. The most famous opportunity is Lester’s assassination missions: four of the five can be done after the story ends, when all three characters have their heist money to invest. The approach, the companies involved and the save-and-sleep method are explained step by step in our Lester guide.
Stocks also react to other events. Some Strangers and Freaks missions and random events affect particular companies, so it is worth checking the market after unusual missions.
Properties
Each protagonist can buy properties around the map, and many generate weekly income. Options range from bars and cinemas to a taxi company, a golf club and an airfield. Some come with small management missions that pop up from time to time.
| Property type | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Businesses | Regular income and occasional missions |
| Garages and hangars | Storage for vehicles and aircraft |
| Special venues | Unique perks tied to activities |
Income from properties is steady rather than spectacular, but it adds up, and buying five properties is part of the 100% checklist anyway.
Side Activities and Small Earners
- Races: street, off-road and sea races pay prize money
- Random events: helping or intercepting strangers sometimes pays off
- Strangers and Freaks: many chains reward cash
- Bail bonds: Trevor’s captures for Maude pay per target
- Store robberies: quick cash, but with police attention
None of these will make you rich on their own, but they help early in the game when even a few thousand dollars matters.
Smart Spending
Money spent well makes the game easier. Body armor and better weapons from Ammu-Nation help in tougher missions. Vehicle upgrades at Los Santos Customs improve speed, handling and durability for chases. Properties pay for themselves over time. Expensive cosmetic purchases are best left until after The Big Score.
Note: Don’t spend everything right before the end of the story. The money you have after the final heist is what you will want to invest for the biggest stock market gains.
A Simple Money Plan
- Early game Do races and side jobs, and keep spending to essentials.
- Mid game Train lower-cut crew on heists and invest small amounts when the story allows.
- After The Big Score Invest each character’s share around Lester’s remaining missions.
- Late game Buy properties, vehicles and aircraft with your profits.
Ready to build your empire from Franklin’s first repo job? Start playing GTA V and see how quickly the money starts to flow.