Summary
Despite theGrand Theft Auto 5story mode featuring a story of bank robbers set on the biggest score of their lives, there are other methods to obtaining the money that don’t require players to plan methodically to rob a bank. InGrand Theft Auto 5’s story mode, players have found several ways that will help them get rich quickly, without the need to crack a few skulls and a vault in the process.
Some of the best ways to makemoney inGrand Theft Auto 5don’t involve violence, but considering the nature of the game, there are going to be options to bring weapons of warfare into Los Santos to create mountains of money, and truly get rich quick inGrand Theft Auto 5.
Updated July 23, 2025, by Jake Fillery:Earn money in GTA 5 fast with these easy tricks, allowing players to commit the fictional crimes of Los Santos and Blaine County as Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, with more stacks of cash in their pockets than they can count. There are plenty of unique ways to earn money in Grand Theft Auto 5, and whilst they may not be as intricate and plentiful as the ever-growing popularity of GTA Online, they are still resourceful enough to keep players rich. After all, players are going to want enough money as they can get their hands on so that they can complete the bucket list of GTA 5 before the inevitable 2025 release of Grand Theft Auto 6, which will surely require players to earn even more cash in the new Vice City.
13Complete Story Missions
Progress Missions For More Money Rewards
Story Missions inGTA 5are vital for the solo players out there who want a unique narrative experience as well as an infinite source of money. By completing story missions, players will unlock further avenues for cash, with more missions that reward money, and more side missions that will give different perks to playing them.
Story content is essential to the experience, and players are not going to be able to earn infinite money without doing it. While most story missions offer scraps of cash, or no money at all, reaching those heists and venturing through missions that reward stock market manipulation is something to look into.
12Venture Across Strangers and Freaks
Meet New People to Earn Unique Rewards and Experienced
There is an abundance of Strangers and Freaks that can be met acrossGTA 5’s world as Trevor, Michael, and Franklin. The trio have their own set of Strangers and Freaks, and each of them certainly deserves their namesake for what mischief they get the protagonists involved in. From stealing celebrities to hunting animals, Strangers and Freaks are plentiful in Los Santos.
Yet, it’s not just there for enjoyment, as Strangers and Freaks can offer some rewards depending on their completion that will greatly benefit players with some tips, cash, and collectibles. Upon discovering one of these missions, it’s always a great idea to see what can be obtained from them.
11Avoid Total Carnage
Avoid Paying Hospital Bills By Staying Out Of Trouble
Sometimes, an open world as expansive asGTA 5with a plethora of weapons is cause for trouble, and players with infinite freedom might want to just let loose on a virtual world by causing maximum destruction and death. However, getting away from a 5-star wanted level isn’t the easiest, and death might be assured to players who seek to give it to others.
In dying, players are going to lose their money to health insurance and hospital bills, so while it might not earn them money, it’s a useful tip to avoid spending it andwasting delightful cashon extremely avoidable situations.
Street Races
Franklin hasspecial missions from Haowhere he can compete in some illegal yet exhilarating street races found across Los Santos. The competition is fierce, and the law may run hot, but street races are a lot of fun for those who love to drive around Los Santos with a disregard for the safety of themselves and others. Players can earnbronze, silver, and gold medalsin Hao’s street races across Los Santos to earn themselves a cash reward.
Whilst the cash for each race may not be in the millions, it’s still a great way to earn some quick and easy cash, especially as Franklin, whose special ability (L3+R3) allows him to use Driving Focus, which slows time whilst driving a land vehicle, allowing him to gain great speed whilst other cars slow, and permits him to take sharp corners quickly. It’s a great skill that can make these races far easier to complete, no matter which car the player chooses.
Save Thousands of Dollars
There are plenty of incredibly unique vehicles inGTA 5that players can find or search for on their in-game internet browser. These vehicles can be pretty pricey, and players will have to spend even more money if they want to upgrade them, so it’s better to take to the streets of Los Santos andsearch for a car that looks worthy of going fast and effective. Players can find plenty of exciting vehicles inGTA 5and save their money in the process.
Whilst they cannot sell these expensive vehicles, finding them for ownership willsave them moneyin the long run from spending their criminal cash. After all, the best way to earn money inGTA 5is simply not to spend money, so it’s best to search for unique and fast vehicles and splash the cash once players have earned the luxury of spending it on entertainment rather than essentials.
8Play The Stock Market
Earn Potential Billions of Dollars
The Stock Market is a fickle thing inGrand Theft Auto 5, and players cantry their luckat manipulating it in order toearn an array of cash for themselves through selling. Players will want to look for low stocks to invest into, and then to sleep or wait around for a few days for it to go up and surge high, just to sell it at the peak of its potential so they can maximize the reward through buying low and selling high.
The stock market can be atad annoying to get rightinGTA 5, as it can be somewhat unpredictable. It’s always good to have a save file ready before and after purchasing stocks so players can continue to skip time and try their luck again at investing big to become millionaires.
San Andreas Robbable Stores
There are19 small storesthat players can rob in Grand Theft Auto 5, and they are easy to pick. There’s usually just the shopkeeper to worry about, and only sometimes will this member of staff act in self-defense and use a gun to try and take out the robber. In that case, simply shoot them. After all, this is a game all about committing crime.
Players can rob these shops as often as they would like, although that doesn’t mean they can rob them every 5 minutes. Whilst the shopkeep might not be happy to see players again, they will certainly hold their breath and hope they don’t get robbed. With plenty of opportunities to rob, and afew thousand dollars to claim each time, it’s always worth robbing these places, although maybe buy a snack or two first.
6Rob Armored Trucks
$3,000 - $5000
One of the more illegal ways to obtain money inGrand Theft Auto 5is through thediscovery of armored trucks. In finding these armored trucks around theGrand Theft Auto 5map, players will have aquick and easy chance of acquiring a few thousand dollars. The best way to get into these trucks is to use apistol to shoot the middle of the two doorsat the back of the truck to allow them to open and a briefcase full of cash ready to fly out.
Robbing armored trucks inGrand Theft Auto 5is a quick and easy way to get some cash fast, and it can easily be done simply by driving around until one appears. However, it’s worth noting that these security vans have bulletproof tires and two guards protecting the money.
$10,000 Per Bounty Brought In Alive / $5,000 If Killed
Four Bail Bond Targets:
One of the more quirky and grey justice ways to obtain money inGrand Theft Auto 5is through theillustrious Maude. This character has astrange friendship with Trevor, in which she will locate the area of someone in need of capture. Trevor can maximize the money in his bank account if he finds these targets and brings them back alive and breathing for Maude.
The Bail Bonds Missions require some element of talent and discovery, as Trevor will take on the role of a detective as he locates his targets. These Bail Bonds are a great way to have fun inGrand Theft Auto 5, with the added reward of getting paid for the work.
$80 - $10,000
Best Random Encounters For Money:
Across the three protagonists of Trevor, Michael, and Franklin, each of these characters can find aRandom Encounter that is unique to them.With almost60 Random Encounters inGrand Theft Auto 5, players will almost always find something new to discover that will grant them aunique and quick mission, along with some healthy cash to stuff into their wallets.
Many different versions of these Random Encounters could see the player net a fancy reward. Whether it’s a returning character fromGrand Theft Auto 4or the delightfully despicable decision of Trevor selling his passengers tothe Altruist cultto make these victims dinner. These are just a few ways to make money fast inGrand Theft Auto 5.
