How to make money in GTA Online

Updated 5 November 2026 · Fan site. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.

The Cayo Perico Heist is the best-known solo earner in GTA Online: it needs a Kosatka submarine ($2,200,000) and can be done alone. Businesses such as the nightclub, bunker and Acid Lab add steady income on top. Payouts are changed often by Rockstar, so the figures here were checked on 5 November 2026 and may be out of date.

Why do GTA Online payouts keep changing?

Rockstar adjusts rewards through updates and weekly events. A method that paid well one year can be cut the next. The GTA Wiki records, for example, that the San Andreas Mercenaries update reduced several Cayo Perico primary targets by 30%. Read every figure below as a snapshot of November 2026.

Is the Cayo Perico Heist still the best solo earner?

It is the heist most often recommended for solo players, because the whole job can be done alone. You need the Kosatka submarine, which the GTA Wiki lists at $2,200,000 base from Warstock Cache and Carry after meeting Miguel Madrazo. Repeat runs cost an upfront fee of $100,000. The GTA Wiki gives a cooldown of about 144 real minutes after a solo run and 48 minutes after a group run. See the Cayo Perico Heist for how the job works.

These are the primary target values in the GTA Wiki rewards table when we checked. Secondary loot such as gold, art and cash adds to them, and the vault target is picked at random on repeat runs.

What about the Diamond Casino Heist?

The Diamond Casino Heist is planned from an arcade and can pay well, but the finale needs at least two players. It suits players who have a regular crew.

Which businesses make passive money?

Most GTA Online businesses follow the same loop: buy supplies, wait for product, then sell. The nightclub is useful because its basement collects stock linked to your other businesses, such as the bunker and the MC businesses. The Acid Lab is another option. The GTA Wiki lists it at $750,000 for the conversion (or $1,450,000 to buy the truck outright), with a $250,000 equipment upgrade after 10 Fooligan Jobs that makes acid faster and worth more. A full resupply costs $60,000. The GTA Wiki also says the Acid Lab cannot be raided.

Are there risks to watch for?

Yes. Sale missions in public sessions can be attacked by other players, and rival organisations can steal heist prep equipment. Weekly events also change which activities pay double, so the best method in a given week can differ from the list above.