In this article, we’ve ranked the top five best ways to make money in GTA Online and link directly to our own guides that further detail exactly how you should do them.

The ranking below goes from best to worst. However, the “worst” in this case doesn’t mean it won’t make you good money, it just means that it might be a little more complex, difficult or inefficient when compared to the higher ranked methods.

The Cayo Perico Heist

The Cayo Perico Heist is the best way to make money in GTA Online, period.

The Cayo Perico Heist has been GTA Online’s most profitable yet solo-friendly heist since it was released in December 2020. What makes this heist the best is the ease and quickness of its setup missions, as well as the finale.

Following our fixed route, you can complete the heist in under 7 minutes! Not only can you complete it very quickly though, but you can also earn the Elite Challenge completion within that same time to earn extra rewards.

You can earn up to $4 million with four players or $2.6 million as a solo player. Those numbers are in the upper spectrum of the possible payout, assuming you get the Panther Statue as your primary target.

Realistically, you can earn up to $1.5-$1.6 million as a solo player every run, which is incredible considering the short amount of time that it takes to complete the heist. 

Guide: Cayo Perico Heist Guides

The Diamond Casino Heist

It has been several years since the release of the Diamond Casino Heist, yet it still stands strong in terms of payout and ease of completion. The only downside to the Diamond Casino Heist is that the setup and prep missions that can take a while to do, depending on how skilled you are. But, you can complete them fairly quickly once you get the hang of it, especially if you own a fast vehicle like an Oppressor Mark II.

Completing the Diamond Casino Heist can be very profitable as you have the potential to earn up to $10 million minimum, and that is on Normal mode. You can earn up to $11 million on Hard mode. When you take that into consideration, the setup and the prep missions don’t seem too bad!

Guide: Diamond Casino Heist Guides

Hangar

The inclusion of Hangar businesses in this list may surprise many players, as the Smuggling business wasn’t even considered in the top ten best money-making methods for a very long time. However, the Hangar business received a complete overhaul with the release of the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC, making it one of the most profitable businesses, thanks to all the payout buffs it has received.

The best part is that it can be completed solo as part of the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC, and that you can sell your product using a single vehicle.

It is also a good idea to purchase the Hangar in general, as purchasing it allows you to store your air vehicles and assign your warehouse technician to the business through your Nightclub, in order to accrue goods passively for the Nightclub business (not for the hangar warehouse).

Guide: Hangar Business Guide

Agency Security Contracts

The Agency is a new property added with the release of the Contracts DLC. It unlocks many doors for new and veteran players to make money. However, it is especially good for newer players, who can quickly access the Agency property. You’ll need to purchase the Agency to start doing the Dr. Dre missions and VIP contracts, which is what we will be focusing on.

You can earn over $1 million for completing all the VIP contract missions. The Contract DLC also features Payphone hits, which is another great way of making money while you wait for your passive businesses to make money or cooldowns.

Payphone hits don’t take much time and can be completed within 8-10 minutes. If you complete the bonus requirement of the mission, you can earn $70k extra on top of the base $15k. So in total, you can earn $85k per Payphone hit completion.

Guide: Contract DLC & Payphone Hits Guide

Nightclub Business

At number five is the Nightclub business. The Nightclub business is one of the most complex businesses to set up, but we still think it is worth the effort: it is the best passive money-making businesses in GTA Online.

The reason it is number five on this list is that it is not beginner friendly and requires a massive initial investment to set up properly. But, you can earn millions passively while you work on other businesses in-game.

This is great if you have other, non-passive sources of income that require you to actively play them, such as the Cayo Perico heist or the Agency missions. You can complete those missions while the Nightclub accrues the materials for you passively, which is worth millions of dollars once ready for you to sell.

Guide: Nightclub Business Guide

If you’re starting out in GTA Online, check out our other money guides to save money and prioritize purchasing the Kosatka submarine. You cannot perform the Cayo Perico heist unless you purchase the Kosatka submarine. Once you’ve purchased the Kosatka, you can work your way towards earning millions and starting some of the other other businesses on this list.

That wraps up our top five best money-making methods for GTA Online in 2023.

One of the businesses that no one thought would become profitable in GTA Online is the smuggling business, commonly referred to as the “Hangar Business.” After the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC update, Hangars have become a great way of earning money thanks to various buffs they received.

A Hangar business is your gateway to sourcing and selling a variety of high-value goods across San Andreas. In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step of the process, from purchasing your own Hangar to maximizing your profits with savvy sourcing and selling strategies.

We’ll cover the ins and outs of sourcing missions, the most profitable product types, and how to navigate the challenges of selling your goods in both solo and public lobbies.

You’ll also get practical tips and tricks to streamline your operations, from efficiently destroying containers to locating hidden drop-off points in the heart of Los Santos. Plus, we’ll introduce you to Rooster, a new character who can help you passively fill up your Hangar, and also explore the potential of the High Demand Bonus for those willing to take on the risks of selling in a populated lobby.

Buy A Hangar

To begin, you need to purchase a Hangar. A Hangar should be a priority for every GTA Online player regardless of their business activities, as it is the only way to store your aircraft.

You can purchase two different Hangars at Los Santos International Airport (LSIA) and three at Fort Zancudo.

It is straightforward to start the DLC quest online, akin to all the DLCs released by Rockstar Games. However, it can get confusing for some players, as navigating the online space after each update can get overwhelming.

In this article, we will guide you on how to start the new DLC missions and complete each mission with valuable tips and tricks. All our written guides have in-game screenshots and they are accompanied by a clear video guide for your visual reference.

Starting the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC

For starters, when you log into the game after the update, you will receive a call from Charlie Reed. After the call, players can see the ‘C’ icon on the map, an abbreviation for Charlie Reed.

If you do not get a call from Charlie Reed, you can always head to the ‘C’ location and enter the white highlighted marker. This marker will be there, regardless of whether you get a call from Charlie Reed or not. If he calls you first, the market turns yellow.

After the call, you will be asked to make a hefty purchase before you can begin your San Andreas Mercenaries DLC missions. Not only do you need to purchase the Mammoth Avenger from the Warstock Cache & Carry online store, but you also need to get a new Operations Terminal upgrade to start the missions.

The base model of the Avenger costs $3,450,000, and the fully upgraded version costs $4,787,500. There is a reason that many players haven’t been able to purchase this behemoth since its release with the Doomsday Heist. The Operations Terminal will set you back by $1,450,000.

You can purchase the Operations Terminal by visiting the Warstock Cache & Carry website and renovating the Avenger. You can also do the same by visiting a Hangar, if you own one.

Operations Terminal

You can access the Operations Terminal by entering the hold of your Avenger. You do not need to go to your Hangar or any other building to access it. You can always call in your Avenger via your interaction menu and enter the hold to access the Operations Terminal. That is where you can start your San Andreas Mercenaries missions as well.

The Operations Terminal offers two types of missions – Project Overthrow and LSA Operations. Let’s discuss what each of these offer and what to expect.

Project Overthrow

Project Overthrow is a series of main storyline missions of the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC. It consists of six story missions around taking down Merryweather Security and solidifying Charlie Reed’s mercenary presence in Los Santos. You can perform these missions in both public and invite-only sessions.

LSA Operations

LSA Operations are freemode missions like security contracts. These missions come in different varieties with additional rewards for completing bonus challenges. You can also start these missions by contacting Charlie Reed from your phone. You can perform these missions in both public and invite-only sessions.

Three random missions appear on the Operations Terminal with a random base reward and a bonus objective. These bonus objectives are also random and pay $15,000 per mission. While the bonus payout is fixed, the base payout is always random.

Once you complete a single mission, you get a 20-minute cooldown timer before you can attempt another LSA Operations mission. There are two difficulty levels: Professional and Specialist. The Professional level rewards players anywhere between $45,000 and $55,000, while the Specialist pays between $60,000 and $70,000.

If you have associates in your organization, they will always receive a fixed amount of $30,000, regardless of the difficulty level. The bonus payment for the completion of bonus objective remains the same for everyone.

The following is a list of all the missions with bonus objectives:

• Direct Action
• Bonus: Plant tracking devices on crates.
• Bonus: Eliminate the armored gunner.
• Bonus: Steal the F-160 Raiju and deliver it.

• Surgical Strike
• Bonus: Photograph the blueprints.
• Bonus: Steal Merryweather outfit.
• Bonus: Steal mysterious artifact.

• Whistleblower
• Bonus: Recover the case file.
• Bonus: Destroy the backup generator.
• Bonus: Upload a virus to the mainframe.

Completing each mission for the first time will also reward you with an outfit. The following are the outfits you unlock for each mission:

• The Infiltrator (Direct Action)
• Merryweather Outfit (Surgical Strike)
• The Shade Outfit (Whistleblower)

Project Overthrow Missions

Let’s dive into each mission you get in Project Overthrow. There are six missions, and each gets progressively more difficult than the other. However, with the tips and strategies in this guide, you should be able to complete them without an issue.

Important Avenger Upgrades

Before we get into the missions, it is imperative that you get the Missile Lock-Jammer and Missile Launcher upgrades for your Avenger.



You can access these upgrades by taking your Avenger to your Hangar and going to the Charlie Upgrades category. These upgrades will make missions revolving around the Avenger much easier.

Mission #1 – Reporting for Duty

In the first mission, you are tasked to go to David Quartz Quarry, destroy the supply trailers, steal the Draugr from one of the containers at the site, and bring it back to LSA Lockup.



When you get to the site, engage Avenger’s auto-pilot by going to your interaction menu and enter its hold.





Once inside the hold, use one of the turrets and destroy all the marked supply trailers.



It is optional, but you can also take out some guards and the anti-air turrets for an easier time escaping once you get the Draugr.



Destroy all the supply trailers and the surrounding enemies. Once you’re happy, land the Avenger near the container.



Get out of the Avenger and carefully but quickly reach the marked container and shoot the lock to open it up.



You can approach the container, and a small cutscene will play.



Once the cutscene ends, you will be driving the Draugr that you need to deliver to the LSA Lockup.



The easiest way to deliver this is first to drive it in Avenger’s hold and then fly the Avenger back to LSA Lockup.





As you fly back to the lockup, you will face resistance but continue to fly, ignoring them as the AI mostly misses.

Land the Avenger near the lockup and drive the Draugr to the yellow marker to complete the mission.





Mission #2 – Falling In

In this mission, you need to go to two different crash sites and steal some charges from inside the crates underwater. We highly recommend stocking up on snacks and armor, as you will need them.

There are two crash sites, each riddled with Merryweather choppers and boats scanning the area for the same charges.



When the mission starts, first make your way to the crash site located at the Alamo Sea. This one is the closest but also the toughest.

Do not fly at a high altitude when you get to the crash site. If you are at a higher altitude, your enhanced camera from the Avenger won’t be able to detect the cargo underwater, even if it is centered in the middle of your camera.



Fly relatively lower and closer to the sea and engage auto-pilot. After engaging the auto-pilot, enter the hold and use the turrets to take out the enemy choppers.



Once you’ve taken them out, land the Avenger on the ground closest to the cargo. You can just land the Avenger at the same location shown in our screenshots.



If you get more choppers, enter the hold and use the Avenger’s turrets to take them out quickly.



You can ignore the Merryweather guards unless they are close to you. Quickly exit the Avenger and dive into the water. Swim to the cargo and collect it.





As you’re swimming back, you will notice that more choppers will spawn, and their perfect aim will destroy you. Always keep an eye on your health and armor bar and quickly replenish whenever needed.



Luckily, you can do that by using the shortcuts from your weapons wheel. Gone are the days of opening up the interaction menu to heal or armor up.



Once you’re back on land, you can take out the choppers by eliminating the pilots.



Quickly head inside your Avenger and go to the second crash site at Cape Catfish.



You repeat the same thing here, engage auto-pilot, use Avenger’s turrets to take out the enemies, and land the Avenger on the sea crane.





Once you’ve landed, quickly head underwater and pick up the second charge. This one is relatively easier as the crate is directly below the sea crane. So you won’t have to swim far out into the distance.



When you’re done, swim back up to your Avenger and deliver the charges to LSA Lockup to complete the mission.





Mission #3 – On Parade

This mission seems to have been everyone’s least favorite, for all the right reasons! The latter half of the mission is quite tiresome and time-consuming.

In this mission, you must first get into the new F-160 Raiju jet and fly it through Raton Canyon, ensuring you’re in Stealth mode.





Once you’re through, you must perform some tricks and score 15 points. The easiest way to do this is to perform barrel rolls. The first roll gives 3 points, and the following rolls give 1 point each.



After acquiring 15 points, the first part is done. In the second part, AR training will begin, where you need to shoot targets for three minutes. As soon as you hit your first target, the timer will begin.



There is no required score limit here. You just need to kill time. So if you want, you can just score 1 point, land the plane somewhere, and wait out the three-minute timer. But where’s the fun in that?

Each target is colored differently and gives points based on the color. Gold gives 10, Red gives 5, Blue gives 3, and White gives 1 point.

Once the timer ends, you will be asked to return to Fort Zancudo Hangar. However, you will be met with enemy choppers, jets, and Avengers.

The best way to take on choppers is by going slightly behind them and using homing missiles to lock on. Do not shoot when facing head-on, as the missiles mostly miss the mark. The missiles are much more precise when shot from behind the target.



Some choppers won’t move until you get close to them. You can use this to your advantage so you can hit them accurately. You can use your hover mode and keep your distance to target them. This way, the choppers won’t move, and the missiles will hit them, guaranteed.



It is okay if you are left with one or two choppers. If the jets spawn in, start focusing on the jets primarily and take them all out before the enemy Avengers show up.

Use the same strategy of shooting the jets from behind. But, whenever you shoot at the jets, double shoot at these jets as two missile shots can generally take them out easily.



You might not even notice, but some jets may gradually crash due to the damage your first shot might have caused them.



Once the Avenger spawns, do not focus on that. Continue to clear the sky of any choppers and jets. We will shift our focus on the Avenger at the end as it is very easy to take care of it.

After taking care of the last jet or chopper, go into Stealth mode and lure the Avenger through the canyon. If you were on Hard mode, you will have two enemy Avengers following you, but you will still use the same strategy. Just ensure that both closely follow you as you enter the canyon.



As you go through the canyon in Stealth mode, you will notice that the enemy Avenger(s) will crash on their own. They will either hit a mountain, a tree, or a bridge, and will explode on impact. Yup, it is that easy.



Now, fly back to Fort Zancudo Hangar to complete the mission.



Mission #4 – Breaking Ranks

In this mission, you need to obtain some Merryweather cargo crates from their warehouse. You can do this mission in two ways: stealth or loud. Stealth is not that difficult, and it is a faster approach.

First, go to McKenzie Airfield and land the Avenger on the runway.



After that, use one of the parked bikes to go to the Merryweather warehouse.



When you get close, equip a suppressed weapon.



If you approach the warehouse from the west, you will see a single guard directly ahead of you. Take him out with a headshot.



Continue moving forward and wait for another guard to pass by the containers. Take him out as well.



Go left, and you will notice two guards chatting by the tractor. Take them both out.



Jump over the fence, and you will see another guard out in the distance, take him out as well.





Now move towards the front entrance of the warehouse and take out the guard closest to you.



You will notice two more guards directly ahead of the guard you just eliminated. Take them both out as well.



After that, go right and behind the warehouse. You will find a single guard here. Take him out before running back to the front.





You will find another guard in the distance by his jeep. Eliminate him.



Now, you can eliminate the guard to your right, standing next to another vehicle with its bonnet open.



Now, there’s only one guard left. Go behind him and take him out with a headshot.



Make your way to the warehouse and stay in a stealth position.



As soon as you enter, you will notice one guard directly ahead of you welding. Go for the headshot.



Then turn right, and you will see another guard crouched beside a shelf. Take him out.



Moving forward, you will find another guard crouched next to a generator. Take him out.



After that, take out the guard on the right.



And then the one on the left next to some wooden crates.



Keep moving forward, and you will find another guard on the left side of the office. Take him out.



Now, you can take out the final two guards inside the office by shooting through the window.



After eliminating all the guards, start collecting the crates. They are generally in the same spot. But if you don’t find them, just run around the warehouse, and they will automatically be marked as green dots on your minimap when you get closer.

Here are the locations we found:

Crate 1

On a stack of wooden pallets next to the office.



Crate 2

On a workbench on the right side of the office.



Crate 3

On a metal shelf to your right as soon as you enter the warehouse.



Crate 4

On a shelf on the left side of the office.



When you grab all four crates, go to the Rumpo (Van) and deliver all the crates.



After that, drive the Rumpo and exit the warehouse.

Now you need to deliver this to LSA Lockup. If you thought of using the Avenger to deliver this Rumpo easily, you’re out of luck as Merryweather destroys your Avenger!.



Your only option is to drive the Rumpo all the way back to the city and deliver it to LSA Lockup.

As you drive it back to the lockup, you will get two bars at the bottom-right corner of your screen. One is a lock-on meter, and the other is a speed meter.



Some Merryweather guards and a jet will chase you. The speed meter has a black line. Keep an eye out for this bar. Make sure the speed bar doesn’t go below the black line. If it does, the lock-on meter will start to rise.

If the lock-on bar is filled, the jet can lock onto you and eliminate you.

Shortly after, you will get Rooster’s air support. As long as you stay inside the blue region (as seen on the minimap), the jet won’t be able to lock onto you. The meters will turn grey suggesting you are not safe.



Once you get on the main highway, it is a breeze. Drive back to the LSA Lockup to complete the mission. It is also worth noting that the jet and the Merryweather stop chasing you as soon as you enter the city.



Mission #5 – Unconventional Warfare

In this mission, you must infiltrate the FIB headquarters and rescue Avi Schwartzman. Yup, we rescue Schwartzman, yet again.

It is best to stock up on armor and snacks for this mission, you will need them. Luckily, you get the refills from Avenger’s hold during this mission.



When you get a prompt, pick up the parachute and wait for P to give you the green light for a HALO jump.



Once ready, approach the rear end of the Avenger to exit and jump.





Continue diving towards the yellow marker on the minimap, and try to land on the roof of the building. There is one guard up there as well. We will take him out as well.



When you land, switch to a suppressed weapon and take out the guard. Always go for the headshots!



After eliminating the guard, use the ladder to go down and continue moving toward the server farm entrance.





You will find two more guards here. But before taking them out, keep an eye out for a patrolling guard who can see them.

Luckily, we got to the two guards first. You can see the patrolling guard on the minimap and through the gate as we move forward.



If the guard reaches the gate, wait for him to turn around before you can go in front of the gate.



Once turned around, quickly go and take him and the guard on the left out.





There’s another guard across the trash container. You can take out this guard as well if you want. But there is another patrolling guard right next to him. So, be careful before you take him out. The safest bet is to leave that guard alone.



Use the keypad to unlock the door and enter the server farm.



When you’re inside, carefully take out the guard at the bottom and follow the route by going right.





Another guard is patrolling the route on the right. Wait for him to turn around and take him out before continuing down the path.



Go through the server compartments for some extra protection. Keep your eyes on the minimap as you move through these compartments.



As soon as you see a large cone of vision, pre-aim in that direction and take out the guards looking your way with a headshot.



Following the same strategy, continue moving forward until you reach Avi.



Take out all the guards around Avi and approach him. Now, you take the same route back while eliminating any incoming enemies. Once you get to Avi, the guards will be alerted. You cannot sneak your way out.





Do not leave Avi behind, and stick together. And do not leave enemies either, because Avi won’t move if enemies are nearby.



Once you reach the middle, you can make a run for the elevator. You don’t need to worry about Avi anymore, he will follow you outside.



When you get outside, quickly go to the middle, take cover by the ‘Los Santos Government Facility’ stone, and take out the chopper. This can easily be done by shooting the pilot.





Be very careful and keep an eye out for enemies that may ambush you from behind. Always look out for them on your minimap.



Keep clearing the enemies by the vehicles and enter the armored riot van when you see an opening.





Drive towards the exit. The door will be locked, but you can open it by shooting the fuse (marked with a red arrow).



You don’t have to worry about getting shot at too much since you will be inside a riot van. It has good protection.



When you get outside, drive to the Avenger for the last part of the mission.



Now, you must use the Avenger turrets to protect the Avenger from incoming Merryweather choppers and jets. Keep protecting until the Avenger flies away to complete the mission.





Mission #6 – Shock & Awe

In this mission, you end Merryweather for good. Please make sure you stock up on snacks and armor for this one too, you’re going to experience lots of combat.

First, make your way to the Merryweather HQ. You will be asked to land the Avenger at the HQ. But wait to land the Avenger. Use the homing missiles to remove as many guards as possible before you land.



Remember, you can go into hover mode to make the Avenger easier to maneuver.

Once you’ve taken out as many as possible, you can go ahead and land the Avenger and proceed on foot.



Now you need to go to the control room on the other side of the docks. Watch for the guards on the platforms around you and ahead of you.



You can stick to the left side of the area and keep pushing forward as you eliminate incoming Merryweather guards. It is not that difficult. Just keep an eye out for enemies on your minimap.



At the end, you will find some stairs. You can use the stairs to climb up to the control room and use Avi’s keycard to open the door to the control room.



When you try to open the door, it won’t work. For the keycard to work, you must destroy ten signal jammers scattered around the area.



Just so you know, you can destroy all the jammers just by standing on the same platform as the door. Here are all ten signal jammer locations (highlighted with a red circle). You can also use a thermal scope on your sniper rifle to easily identify them.

• One is right beside the control room door.
  
• One is directly in front of the control room door.
  
• One is directly below the control room. You can see it from the platform itself. You just need to angle yourself accordingly.

  

• Two are located on the left side of the docks. One is on a pillar directly in front of you. The other is on the wall to the far-left.

  

• There are three signal jammers on the right side. One is on the sixth support pillar from you. The second one is by the shutter door on the far-right side of the docks. And the last one is on the wall of a small portable office cabin.

  

Once you’ve destroyed all ten jammers, try the keycard again, and the door should open. You will find two guards inside.





Take them out and press the button in the control room to disengage the cargo lock.





Now, make your way to the cargo. First, stay on the platform after leaving the control room and wait for the boats to arrive and destroy them.





Continue going downstairs and eliminate the guards on your way down. Take your time, and always remember to take cover. You have plenty of cover in this area, even on stairs.





When you get to the cargo, always take out as many guards as you can before pushing the cargo.





If you feel like the enemies are getting overwhelmingly dangerous. Stop and eliminate them first.



Two choppers will also spawn. Take them out by either using an RPG or shooting the pilot. Always keep an eye out for your health and armor and replenish whenever needed. This is why we advised you to stock up on snacks and armor before you begin this mission.





Continue pushing the cargo to the Avenger. Once the cargo is secured, enter the Avenger and return to Fort Zancudo Hangar to complete the mission.





You will get a final cutscene and thus concludes our San Andreas Mercenaries DLC story missions.



Frequently Asked Questions

What is San Andreas Mercenaries?

San Andreas Mercenaries is a GTA Online DLC that lets players join a renegade outfit to take down Merryweather Security. Players get to participate in aerial combat, as well as do new missions that involve stealing sensitive data, conducting raids, and dropping explosive payloads with elite, ex-military operators. San Andreas Mercenaries was released on June 13, 2023.

How to start San Andreas Mercenaries?

To start San Andreas Mercenaries, answer the call from Charlie Reed or go to his location (marked on the map in the guide above) to begin your San Andreas Mercenaries missions.

What are the rewards for GTA San Andreas Mercenaries?

Some of the rewards you get from GTA San Andreas Mercenaries are clothing, vehicle finishes, and other exclusive cosmetics. Completing freemode missions in LSA Operations can also give you between $45,000 to $55,000 for Professional level missions and between $60,000 to $70,000 for Specialist level, plus a bonus payout of $15,000 per mission.

]]> https://www.gtaboom.com/san-andreas-mercenaries-dlc-guide/feed/ 6 https://www.gtaboom.com/gta-online-heist-payouts/ Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:29:53 +0000 https://www.gtaboom.com/?p=89480 Heists stand out as the cash cows of GTA Online, offering lucrative paydays for players willing to take the risk. However, it’s important to factor in the time investment required for each job. While some heists can be completed quickly, others demand hours of meticulous planning and execution for comparable payouts.

Heist Earnings Calculator

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In this article, we’ve laid out all the missions for each heist in GTA Online as well as the payouts each heist at each difficulty level. We’ve also linked to our expert guides to completing each heist, for easy access.

Finally, as well as all the heists payouts, we’ve also listed the maximum potential earnings that you can expect from other missions such as Los Santos Tuners contracts and San Andreas Mercenaries, etc.

Original GTA Online Heists

The Pacific Standard series of heists were the first heists introduced in GTA Online. Each heist comprises a series of setup missions leading up to the grand finale, The Pacific Standard. While the time investment for completing the entire series is significant, its payouts do not really mesh up with the time investment required when compared to other heist options.

Payout

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the original heists, their setup costs, and the potential earnings across various difficulty levels (easy, normal, and hard).

Heist	Setup Cost	Payout (Easy)	Payout (Normal)	Payout (Hard)	Average Completion Time
The Fleeca Job	$11,500	$100,625	$201,250	$251,562	15-20 mins
The Prison Break	$25,000	$350,000	$700,000	$875,000	15-20 mins
The Humane Lab Raid	$25,000	$472,500	$945,000	$1,181,250	15-20 mins
Series A Funding	$25,000	$353,500	$707,000	$883,750	15-20 mins
The Pacific Standard	$25,000	$750,000	$1,500,000	$1,875,000	20 mins

Heists’ Elite Challenges

In every GTA Online heist finale, players can undertake a series of bonus objectives known as Elite Challenges. These challenges task players with either finishing the heist finale within a restricted timeframe or accomplishing specific tasks throughout the mission.

If players successfully complete all Elite Challenges within a single heist, they unlock an additional $100,000 bonus – except for The Fleeca Job, which offers a $50,000 bonus.

The following are the challenges

• The Fleeca Job
  • Complete in under 5:20
  • Vehicle damage under 6%
  • Nobody gets wasted
• The Prison Break
  • Rashkovsky damaging 1% or less
  • Extraction in under 4:40
  • Nobody gets wasted
• The Humane Labs Raid
  • Complete in under 11:00 minutes
  • Vehicle damage under 2%
  • Nobody gets wasted
• Series A Funding
  • Complete in under 6:30 minutes
  • Kill 75 enemies
  • Nobody gets wasted
• The Pacific Standard Job
  • Complete in under 10:15 Minutes
  • NOOSE not called
  • Nobody gets wasted

The Doomsday Heist

The Doomsday Heist is a three-act heist that marked a substantial milestone in GTA Online’s history, offering players a chance to partake in a massive heist, with the potential to earn up to $2.2 million upon completing the finale.

The Doomsday Heist consists of three acts (Data Breaches, Bogdan Problem and Doomsday Scenario), each functioning as a separate heist. Within each act, players complete series of prep missions, setup missions, and finales.

The Doomsday Heist Payout

Below is a table detailing the setup cost and payouts for each difficulty level in The Doomsday Heist. Unlike other heists, The Doomsday Heist does not offer an easy mode, with players only having the option to choose between normal or hard mode.

Heist	Setup Cost	Payout (Normal)	Payout (Hard)	Average Completion Time (mins)
Act 1 – The Data Breaches	$25,000	$975,000	$1,218,750	15-20
Act 2 – The Bogdan Problem	$25,000	$1,425,000	$1,781,250	20-30
Act 3 – The Doomsday Scenario	$25,000	$1,800,000	$2,250,000	45-60

The Doomsday Heist Elite Challenges

Similar to the original GTA Online heists above, The Doomsday Heists feature elite challenges that offer players the opportunity to earn extra cash. Completing all elite challenges for each act rewards players with an additional $50,000. Below are the elite challenges for each act.

• Act 1 – The Data Breaches
  • Complete in under 5:30 minutes
  • 78 kills
  • Nobody gets wasted
• Act 2 – The Bogdan Problem
  • Complete in under 15:00 minutes
  • Vehicle damage 5% or less
  • Nobody gets wasted
• Act 3 – The Doomsday Scenario
  • Complete in under 30:00 minutes
  • 0 hacks failed
  • 150 headshots
  • Nobody gets wasted

The Diamond Casino Heist

The Diamond Casino Heist, as the name suggests, lets you plan and pull off a daring casino heist. It’s one of the most exciting series of missions in GTA Online, and Rockstar Games nailed it!

Unlike other heists, players can select among three different approaches – Silent & Sneaky, Aggressive, or The Big Con – to pull off this heist. Your approach must be selected before the heist preps can be started, as the prep missions are dependent on what approach you select.

The Diamond Casino Heist Payout

In the Diamond Casino Heist, your target isn’t just one thing. You could end up with cash, artwork, gold, or even the rarest find of all: diamonds. These valuables are randomly assigned. Diamonds are available on limited occasions.

The following are the average completion times (minutes) for each approach:

• Silent & Sneaky Approach: 20-25 mins
• The Big Con Approach: 20-25 mins
• Aggressive Approach: 20-25 mins

The following is the potential payout for each difficulty level (normal or hard), there is no easy mode.

Target	Setup Cost	Payout (Normal)	Payout (Hard)
Cash	$25,000	$2,115,000	$2,326,500
Artwork	$25,000	$2,350,000	$2,585,000
Gold	$25,000	$2,585,000	$2,843,500
Diamonds	$25,000	$3,290,000	$3,619,000

The Diamond Casino Heist Elite Challenges

Completing elite challenges in the Diamond Casino Heist can net you an extra $50,000 on normal difficulty or $100,000 on hard mode. Each approach comes with its own set of elite challenges that are as follows:

• Silent & Sneaky Approach
  • Complete in under 15:00 minutes
  • Nobody gets wasted
  • 0 hacks failed
  • Don’t get detected
• The Big Con Approach
  • Complete in under 15:00 minutes
  • Nobody gets wasted
  • Don’t get detected
• Aggressive – Approach
  • Complete in under 15:00 minutes
  • Nobody gets wasted
  • 80 headshots

The Cayo Perico Heist

The Cayo Perico Heist is one of the best heists if you’re looking to earn money as a solo player. With relatively quick prep missions, this heist offers solo players the opportunity to rake in millions with minimal effort.

The average completion time for the Cayo Perico heist is around 10-15 mins as a solo player.

The Cayo Perico Heist Payout

Throughout the Cayo Perico Heist, players aim to secure both primary and secondary targets. While the primary target may vary, with the exception of the initial playthrough where the Madrazo Files are fixed, subsequent attempts at the heist will offer different primary objectives.

Primary targets include items like the Sinsimito Tequila, Ruby Necklace, Bearer Bonds, Pink Diamond, and the elusive Panther Statue, available only during special occurrences.

Secondary targets, on the other hand, provide optional loot opportunities, including artwork, weed, cocaine, cash, and gold, giving players a way to maximize their payout. The amount of secondary loot you get depends on how much you can carry in your loot bag.

PRIMARY TARGETS

Primary Target	Setup Cost	Payout (Normal)	Payout (Hard)
Sinsimito Tequila	$100,000	$630,000	$693,000
Ruby Necklace	$100,000	$700,000	$770,000
Bearer Bonds	$100,000	$770,000	$847,000
Pink Diamond	$100,000	$1,300,000	$1,430,000
Panther Statue	$100,000	$1,900,000	$2,090,000

SECONDARY TARGETS

Secondary Target	Loot Value
Cash	$78,750 – $83,250
Artwork	$157,500 – $180,000
Weed	$130,500 – $135,000
Cocaine	$198,000 – $202,500
Gold	$328,333 – $333,333

The Cayo Perico Heist Elite Challenges

In addition to its regular rewards, the Cayo Perico Heist offers players the chance to tackle elite challenges for extra cash. Completing these challenges can earn an additional $50,000 in normal mode and a hefty $100,000 in hard mode. The following are the elite challenges.

• Complete the Cayo Perico Heist in less than 15 minutes.
• Full loot bags.
• No failed hacks.
• Nobody gets wasted.

You can check out our in-depth guide on how to complete The Cayo Perico Heist as a solo player as well as doing the elite challenges along the way.

Los Santos Tuners Contracts

Once you’ve established your Auto Shop and completed the setup mission, you gain access to contract missions. These missions are listed on the job board within your Auto Shop. Both Sessanta and KDJ (Moodymann) will assign you these contracts.

In total, there are eight contracts waiting for you to dive into. If you need assistance setting up your Auto Shop, be sure to check out our buying and setup guide.

Los Santos Tuners Contracts Payout

Whenever you get the total payment for completing a contract, KDJ and Sessanta always take 5% each (total 10%) cut from the payment. We’ve stated both the payouts (before and after the cut) below. For some reason, KDJ and Sessanta didn’t take any cut from the ECU job.

Contract	Target	Gross Payout	Net Payout
Agency Deal	Recipe	$182,000	$163,800
Bank Contract	Cash	$178,000	$160,200
Data Contract	Files	$170,000	$153,000
ECU Job	ECU	$172,000	$172,000
Prison Contract	Gang Members	$175,000	$157,500
Superdollar Deal	Bank Plates	$185,000	$166,500
Lost Contract	Meth Supply	$180,000	$162,000
Union Depository Contract	Gold	$300,000	$270,000

San Andreas Mercenaries DLC

In the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC, players can complete in two types of missions: Project Overthrow and LSA Operations. Project Overthrow forms the core storyline of the DLC, consisting of six main missions that players progress through. LSA Operations offer freemode missions akin to security contracts, presenting a variety of challenges and bonus rewards for completion.

San Andreas Mercenaries DLC Payout

Mission	Payout (Easy – 100%)	Payout (Normal – 125%)	Payout (Hard – 150%)
Reporting for Duty	~$12,000	~$18,000	~$24,000
Falling In	~$12,000	~$18,000	~$24,000
On Parade	~$12,000	~$18,000	~$24,000
Breaking Ranks	~$12,000	~$18,000	~$24,000
Unconventional Warfare	~$12,000	~$18,000	~$24,000
Shock & Awe	~$12,000	~$18,000	~$24,000

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LSA Operations Payout

LSA Operation	Payout (Professional)	Payout (Specialist)	Bonus Completion
Direct Action	$45,000 – $55,000	$60,000 – $70,000	$15,000
Surgical Strike	$45,000 – $55,000	$60,000 – $70,000	$15,000
Whistleblower	$45,000 – $55,000	$60,000 – $70,000	$15,000

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