The Assassination Missions: Your Biggest Payday
Before anything else: do not complete the assassination missions until you have maximum funds. Lester's assassination missions allow you to manipulate the in-game stock market. Here is the order to maximize profits:
- Complete the main story first. Save up all money from heists.
- Hotel Assassination: Buy Betta Pharmaceuticals (BAWSAQ) before. Sell after. Buy Bilkinton Research after it crashes.
- Multi-Target Assassination: Buy Debonaire (LCN) before the mission.
- Vice Assassination: Buy Fruit Computers (BAWSAQ) before.
- Construction Assassination: Buy Gold Coast (LCN) before.
- Bus Assassination: Buy Vapid (BAWSAQ) after the mission. Wait for maximum gain.
Done correctly, this sequence can earn each character $2–3 billion.
The Best Heist Payouts
Story mode heists in order of maximum payout:
- The Big Score (Subtle approach): ~$41.6M per character. Use Karim and Taliana as crew for maximum take-home.
- The Jewel Store Job (Smart approach): ~$4.9M per character. Use Rickie Lukens and Eddie Toh.
- The Bureau Raid (Fire Crew): ~$3.8M per character. Cheap crew, minimal losses.
- The Paleto Score: Fixed at ~$8M but most goes to Merryweather/FIB.
Armored Trucks
Random armored trucks appear across the map carrying $5,000–$8,000 each. Use sticky bombs on the rear doors, collect the cash, and escape before police arrive. This yields $15,000–25,000 every 10–15 minutes if you know the spawn locations.
Convenience Stores
Robbing convenience stores is fast money: $500–$2,000 per store. The clerk opens the register faster if you point your gun at them. Shoot the ceiling to speed things up. There are 18 stores across the map — a full circuit takes about 45 minutes and yields ~$25,000.
Pro Tips
- Always save before any mission involving stock manipulation
- Wait for BAWSAQ stocks to peak before selling (check the website daily)
- Use Michael for the assassination missions — his suit looks professional
- Complete Strangers & Freaks side missions for extra cash while exploring
