If you can master these GTA Online cash cows, you'll never run out of money.
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.
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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.
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.
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 |
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 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.
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 |
Similar to [#original 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.
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.
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:
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 |
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:
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.
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 |
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.
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.
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.
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 |
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.
| 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 |
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 |
