Sayonara Salvatore (GTA III)
Sayonara Salvatore is a Grand Theft Auto III (2001) mission given by Asuka Kasen of the Yakuza. To prove he has broken with the Mafia, Claude must kill Salvatore Leone when the don leaves Luigi's club in Portland. It pays $25,000 and turns the Leone family against Claude for the rest of the game.
Why does Claude kill Salvatore Leone?
By this point Salvatore Leone has already tried to get rid of Claude. Wikipedia explains that Salvatore's wife Maria had told him she was seeing Claude, and the jealous don then sent Claude off in a car rigged with a bomb. Maria warned him, and Claude escaped to Staunton Island with her and Asuka Kasen. Wikipedia says he then killed Salvatore to cut his ties with the Mafia and went to work for the Yakuza.
Who gives Sayonara Salvatore?
It is the first job from Asuka Kasen, joint leader of the Yakuza, at her condo in Newport. gta.wiki says it opens after Last Requests. Asuka wants proof of loyalty, and the proof is the death of Claude's old boss. The title simply means goodbye, Salvatore.
What happens in Sayonara Salvatore?
Salvatore is due to leave Luigi's club in the Red Light District of Portland a few hours after the briefing, so Claude has time to get across the water and pick a spot. The don has armed guards and a Mafia Sentinel waiting for him. A common approach, described in gta.wiki's walkthrough, is a sniper rifle from a rooftop across the street, so the shot can be taken before the guards close in. Lingering nearby for too long gets Claude spotted.
gta.wiki lists the ways to fail: Claude dies or is busted, Salvatore makes it home, his car is destroyed before he climbs in, or Claude misses the moment he walks out.
What is the reward for Sayonara Salvatore?
| Result | Details (per gta.wiki) |
|---|---|
| Cash | $25,000 |
| Unlocks | Under Surveillance for Asuka, plus the first job for King Courtney |
| Leone turf | Mafia members in Saint Mark's now attack Claude on sight |
| Mafia weapons | Leone gunmen carry pump-action shotguns |
Why is the mission remembered?
It is the turning point of Grand Theft Auto III. The first act is spent working up through the Leone family; this job ends that chapter with the death of the man at its top, and Portland stops being safe. gta.wiki notes that Leone cars in Saint Mark's become dangerous because Claude cannot bail out during these attacks. Salvatore's earlier life is shown in Liberty City Stories, set in 1998, where he is one of the main characters.
For the rest of the Staunton Island story see our GTA III missions hub.
Sources
- GTA Wiki (gta.wiki) — Sayonara Salvatore read 2 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia — Grand Theft Auto III read 2 Nov 2026