Grand Theft Auto V’s story mode offers a rich and engaging experience, but it’s even more rewarding when you’re swimming in cash. If you’re wondering How To Make Money Story Mode Gta 5, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will provide you with a detailed strategy to maximize your earnings, invest wisely, and become a financial tycoon in Los Santos and beyond.
After completing the initial mission and unlocking control of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, the entire map opens up, presenting a wealth of opportunities to generate income. Purchasable properties become available, and strategic investments are key to long-term financial success. However, before diving into real estate, a crucial early decision awaits: who should receive the ARK stock reward?
The ARK Stock Dilemma: Franklin’s Financial Jumpstart
It’s highly recommended to allocate the ARK stock reward to Franklin. Here’s why: Michael, through the Epsilon Program side quest, is designed to naturally accumulate a substantial amount of money, easily reaching $1,000,000. The ARK stock reward, while helpful, is less impactful for Michael given his already high earning potential.
Trevor, on the other hand, generates significant income from TP Industries, his illicit business ventures. Depending on player activity, Trevor can rake in anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000 per week, making the ARK stock less critical for his financial growth.
Franklin benefits most significantly from the ARK stock. Early in the game, Franklin’s earning potential is comparatively lower, and the ARK reward provides a valuable boost. This financial injection can help offset the initial costs of purchasing businesses like the Taxi Company, Tow Company, the Dispensary, or the Auto Shop, setting him up for more rapid wealth accumulation.
Investment Philosophies: The Tortoise vs. The Hare
Once you’ve decided on the ARK stock, the next strategic choice is whether to aggressively grind to $1,000,000 with each character before investing in properties, or to purchase properties incrementally while building up your capital. There are two main schools of thought:
The Hare Approach: Fast Growth Through Initial Capital
The “hare” philosophy advocates for prioritizing rapid accumulation of $1,000,000 per character before investing in properties. This approach leverages the power of compound interest and investment returns. By maximizing your initial capital, each buy/sell cycle in the stock market yields increasingly larger profits. These substantial returns can potentially fund property purchases entirely through investment gains.
The Tortoise Approach: Steady Income Through Early Investments
Conversely, the “tortoise” method emphasizes gradual property acquisition alongside money grinding. This strategy recognizes that while grinding to $1,000,000 can be time-consuming, especially with income disparities between characters like Trevor and Franklin (where Trevor’s trafficking missions often yield quicker returns than Franklin’s races), purchasing properties early provides a steady stream of passive income. This income, while initially smaller, allows properties to slowly pay for themselves while you continue to farm for more capital.
Ultimately, the choice between the hare and tortoise approaches depends on your play style and patience. However, for a balanced and sustainable growth strategy, the “tortoise” method of gradual property investment is often recommended.
Strategic Property Acquisitions: A Character-by-Character Guide
Adopting the “tortoise” approach, here’s a recommended property purchase order for each character, designed to optimize income and strategic advantages:
Trevor’s Property Portfolio: Embracing Paleto Bay and Beyond
Trevor’s property acquisitions should focus on Paleto Bay and the surrounding areas, aligning with his character and existing business operations:
- Grapevine Hanger: Provides a base of operations in the north and potential for air-based missions.
- The Hen House (Paleto Bay Bar): A steady income stream and a local hangout for Trevor.
- Strip Club (Vanilla Unicorn): Acquired through a story mission, offering consistent revenue.
- Pitchers: Another bar, expanding Trevor’s entertainment property holdings.
- Tequi-La-La: Becomes available after a specific encounter with Nigel, further diversifying Trevor’s bar empire.
Franklin’s Property Ladder: Building an Empire in Los Santos
Franklin’s properties should be strategically located in and around Los Santos, capitalizing on his connections and street-level operations:
- Smoke on the Water: A marijuana dispensary, fitting Franklin’s persona and providing a relevant income stream.
- Toxic Waste Cleaning Company (Docks): Located north of Los Santos, near where the submersible is stored after Trevor’s Merryweather Heist, this property offers a unique and slightly less conventional income source.
- Tow Company: A practical business that aligns with Franklin’s skills and offers a decent return.
- Taxi Company: Provides a more traditional business venture and steady income.
- Auto Shop (Beeker’s Garage): Situated north of Los Santos near Sandy Shores, while the weekly return of $1,600 might seem low for its $349,000 price tag, the crucial benefit is free car modifications. For players who frequently customize vehicles, this property offers significant long-term savings and essentially pays for itself through saved modification costs.
- Biker Bar (The Lost MC Clubhouse): Located on the west Los Santos highway heading north towards Paleto Bay (name in-game may vary slightly), this bar complements Franklin’s urban property portfolio.
Michael’s High-End Investments: Vinewood and Beyond
Michael’s property investments should reflect his more sophisticated tastes and focus on higher-value entertainment venues in Vinewood and the city center:
- Scrapyard (Los Santos Customs in La Puerta): While described in the original text as “mostly useless and broken,” the Scrapyard, which is actually Los Santos Customs in La Puerta, does offer a passive income stream. It also provides a convenient location for Michael to modify vehicles. While not a high-earner, it’s a relatively low-cost early investment.
- 10-Cent Theater (Ten Cent Theater): This should be a later purchase, recommended only after Michael has accumulated at least $20,000,000 due to its high $10,000,000 cost. This ensures Michael maintains substantial investment capital while the theater generates returns.
- Vinewood Cinema (Oriental Theater): A mid-range cinema, balancing cost and income potential.
- The most expensive theater (Tivoli Cinema): The final and most lucrative cinema purchase, maximizing Michael’s entertainment property income.
The Golf Course: A Luxury Acquisition
The decision of who purchases the Los Santos Golf Club is left to player preference. However, considering income balance, Franklin, who generally has the lowest overall weekly income from his properties, could be argued as the most deserving candidate for this prestigious and expensive property.
Strategic Gameplay: Freezing the Story for Maximum Profit
A crucial tip for maximizing your wealth in GTA 5 story mode is to delay progressing major story missions, particularly those related to the Barry and FIB questlines in Michael’s storyline. Advancing these missions can trigger depreciation in the LCN stock market, potentially hindering your investment gains.
By strategically “freezing” the storyline and focusing on money grinding and property acquisition, you can maintain a stable LCN market environment. This allows for consistent and predictable stock market manipulation for guaranteed profits. By following this approach, players can minimize or even eliminate stock market losses and build substantial wealth before continuing the main story.
Leveraging Stranger Missions: Franklin and the Spaceship Parts
While focusing on wealth accumulation, you can engage in Stranger and Freaks missions. For Franklin, the “Far Out” mission, involving collecting spaceship parts, is a worthwhile side activity. This mission, detailed in this guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2468407188, provides a fun diversion and additional rewards without significantly impacting the core money-making strategies.
By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to master how to make money story mode gta 5, build a vast financial empire, and enjoy the game with limitless resources. Remember to invest wisely, manage your properties strategically, and enjoy the journey to becoming the wealthiest criminal in Los Santos.
