Grand Theft Auto Online, or more commonly known to fans as GTA Online, allows players to experience the open world maps from Grand Theft Auto V with others online. As you explore Los Santos and Blaine County, players have the option to play alone in Free Mode PvE, choose who to play with by inviting their friends, or even play completely PvP as you coexist with other players online. Players have a wide range of activities to complete in this open world environment like assaults on local gangs, robbing armored trucks, and challenging other players to Impromptu Races to name a few. Available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, players can experience Los Santos and Blaine County in up to 4K resolution and 60 FPS. However, just like the real world, GTA Online runs on money, so using your time to make the most money possible is a top priority for many players. Combining these methods along with specially offered Double GTA$ and Double Reputation activities is by far the best way of maximizing profits. In this list we will go over the top ten methods of making money in Grand Theft Auto Online.

10. Time Trials

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

These short races are a Freemode Event marked on the map with a purple stopwatch. You will be given a par time to beat and a finish line, but no route, so it is up to you to find your way and finish in time. Time Trials are unique and change every real-time week, cycling through a total of 30. Upon completing within the par time, players are rewarded with $101,000 – $104,000; however, if you do not complete within the required time or you complete the race again in the same week, players are only rewarded with $1,000 – $4,000. There are no prerequisites for this activity, but a fast and fully upgraded car or bike is recommended. If you want to know what the fastest cars are in the game currently, check out our guide here!

9. Daily Objectives

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

Unlocked at Rank 15, players are able to complete three objectives found on the player’s Interaction Menu everyday. The objectives consist of at least one job to participate in such as Deathmatch, Racing, Capture, LTS or Versus Mission, Survival or Contact Mission, or a Parachute Jump. Completing all three daily objectives rewards players with $30,000 and 5,000RP. Daily objectives may not give the most money daily, but the investment is worth it when consecutive days reward cash bonuses. After completing seven daily objectives in a row, players are rewarded with $150,000 and 20,000 RP, and after 28 consecutive dailies, players will receive $750,000 and 50,000 RP. In one month, players will have profited a total of $2,190,000, making daily objectives worth the time.

8. VIP Work

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

In the Free Mode world, players can start their own organisation as a VIP or CEO from the SecuroServ option in the Interaction Menu to complete VIP Work. You must have at least $1,000,000 in your bank to become a VIP or purchase an Executive Office from the Dynasty 8 Executive website on your phone to become a CEO. With nine jobs available, Headhunter, Hostile Takeover, and Sightseer are some of the most profitable, each rewarding about $20,000. These activities are best to complete between the cooldowns of other, more profitable, methods on this list.

7. Nightclubs

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

With so many business opportunities available in GTA Online, nightclubs are one of the few legitimate ways to make money. Nightclubs can be purchased with a minimum of $1,100,000 while other businesses cost $850,000. As long as you keep your nightclub popular through the management missions, players will earn a passive income of $10,000 every in-game day (48 minutes). The most profitable part of nightclubs are using them as a hub for your other illegal businesses. These activities can be accessed via the computer in your nightclub building VIP area and selecting “Warehouse Management”, then assign a Warehouse Technician to one of the goods you have available. The goods you have available will depend on the other businesses you own, such as motorcycle club businesses, gunrunning bunker, or cargo warehouses. Some calculate the profits to be about $40,000 per hour.

6. Motorcycle Club

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

Players can live the biker lifestyle when they create a Motorcycle Club and make money on the side. You can use your club to steal or buy supplies for your various businesses. Rank up within a club or create a new one as the president. In order to make money this way, you must purchase a Clubhouse for $200,000, a business for at least $650,000 and be the Motorcycle Club president. Cocaine is the most profitable, albeit a more expensive and time-consuming business. Your Motorcycle Club can produce passive income once you give your staff tasks, allowing you to do other money-making activities at the same time. With the right tasks, players can make a passive $80,000 per hour.

5. Gunrunning

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

When players purchase a Bunker, the Gunrunning business opportunity is unlocked. Similar to Motorcycle Clubs, buying a Bunker will give you passive income but at double the profit. The start-up costs are higher, so make sure you have a minimum of $1,200,000 to purchase your Bunker. You can start a business as a VIP or CEO from the SecuroServ option in the Interaction Menu to start making money. It is a better use of your time to buy supplies instead of steal, making your Gunrunning business completely passive. Once your staff have created enough product, sell your stock via a delivery mission to begin making about $80,000 per hour.

4. Air Freight Cargo

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

Introduced in the Smuggler’s Run update, Air Freight Cargo is an activity where players use planes or helicopters to steal and transport criminal cargo. Cargo missions are easier to access since they can be carried out as either a Motorcycle Club member or president, or as an Organization associate or CEO. Players must first purchase a Hangar for a minimum of $1,200,000 from Maze Bank Foreclosures. It is best to choose one type of cargo, the best being narcotics, chemicals, or medical supplies since you get a 35% bonus for selling 25 crates of these types, and a 75% bonus for selling all 50 crates. When done efficiently and with other people, Air Freight Cargo can make you up to $150,000 per hour.

3. Special Cargo

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

Players can purchase a warehouse for at least $250,000 and an Office for a minimum of $1,000,000 to open the opportunity for Special Cargo missions. In this activity, players will have to complete a mission by delivering crates of cargo to their warehouse. You can only carry one crate at a time, so bringing friends can speed up this process. To sell, players will need to complete a mission to deliver to a buyer, via land, sea, or air. The more crates you sell at once, the more profit you will make. This means a more expensive, but larger, warehouse could make more money, but is also riskier since you can lose your cargo on delivery missions. This is one of the most profitable activities, with the possibility of making $200,000 per hour.

2. Vehicle Cargo

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

Similar to Special Cargo, Vehicle Cargo is actually easier and can make more money for players. The start-up cost is more as players must be a CEO, purchase an Office for a minimum of $1,000,000 and a vehicle warehouse which starts at $1,000,000. In Vehicle Cargo, players will complete a mission to steal a car and drive it back to their warehouse. This must be done carefully since damages will result in repair costs, lowering your profit. You cannot have more than one type of car in your warehouse, so it is recommended to collect ten standard range and ten mid range vehicles with no duplicates. At that point, every source mission will give you a top range vehicle until you get all twelve of those. Only export your most expensive cars, thus maximizing your profit. You can only deliver one car at a time, so bringing friends can also boost your income. Players can make $300,000 per hour when doing this method correctly.

1. Heists

Grand Theft Auto: Online – Credit: Rockstar Games

The most profitable activity, by far, are Heists. In order to complete, players will participate in a series of setup missions that lead up to a high-profit crime. In order to begin, players must reach Rank 12 and own a high-end apartment with a heist planning room. Lester Crest will contact the player to set up the tutorial heist called The Fleeca Job. Lester acts as the heist leader in this mission, but players will be able to lead their own heists after completing the tutorial heist. These activities require 2-4 players, so working together with others will make you successful. Below are the prerequisites of each heist as well as potential payout depending on difficult chosen (Easy, Normal, or Hard).

Fleeca Job: 2 players, Lester provides the setup cost, $57,500 – $143,750 payout.

2 players, Lester provides the setup cost, $57,500 – $143,750 payout. Prison Break: 4 players, $40,000 setup cost, $200,000 – $500,000 payout.

4 players, $40,000 setup cost, $200,000 – $500,000 payout. Humane Labs Raid: 4 players, $54,000 setup cost, $270,000 – $675,000 payout.

4 players, $54,000 setup cost, $270,000 – $675,000 payout. Series A Funding: 4 players, $40,400 setup cost, $202,000 – $505,000 payout.

4 players, $40,400 setup cost, $202,000 – $505,000 payout. Pacific Standard: 4 players, $100,000 setup cost, $500,000 – $1,250,000 payout.

4 players, $100,000 setup cost, $500,000 – $1,250,000 payout. Data Breaches: 2-4 players, $65,000 setup cost, $650,000 – $812,500 payout.

2-4 players, $65,000 setup cost, $650,000 – $812,500 payout. Bogdan Problem: 2-4 players, $95,000 setup cost, $950,000 – $1,187,000 payout.

2-4 players, $95,000 setup cost, $950,000 – $1,187,000 payout. Doomsday Scenario: This heist can only be played while being in a CEO/VIP organization or Motorcycle club which own a Facility. 2-4 players, $120,000 setup cost, $1,200,000 – $1,500,00 payout.

This heist can only be played while being in a CEO/VIP organization or Motorcycle club which own a Facility. 2-4 players, $120,000 setup cost, $1,200,000 – $1,500,00 payout. Diamond Casino: This heist can only be played while being in a CEO/VIP organization or Motorcycle club which owns an Arcade. 2-4 players, $100,000 setup, $2,115,000 payout.

Conclusion

Like the real world, GTA Online runs on money, so hopefully these methods will help you make the most of living in Los Santos and Blaine County. While making money can lead to more awesome experiences, enjoying the game should be every player’s priority. If grinding for money in Grand Theft Auto Online starts feeling more like a job, then maybe it’s not worth the effort. When following these methods, remember to have fun while you’re doing it.

If you would like to read more about the best ways to make money in GTA Online check out “The GTA Online Mega Guide” on the GTA Online subreddit!