Story Mode's funny like that: you think you're rich, then you price up a hangar, a golf membership, and a couple of supercars and realise you're not even close. If you're trying to stack serious cash without turning it into a full-time job, I've ended up leaning on a mix of quirks, repeatables, and a bit of market timing, the same stuff people search for under GTA 5 Money when they hit that "I'm broke again" moment.
Repeatable Underwater Cash
The easiest "set it and forget it" loop is still the underwater briefcase near Pacific Bluffs, tucked by the wrecked sub. It's $25k a pop, which doesn't sound huge until you realise it can be farmed. Turn off autosave, swim down, and make a manual quicksave before you touch it. Grab the case, swim up far enough that the game feels like you've left the area, save again, then reload. If it respawns, you keep the money and can run it back. It's not glamorous and the loads are annoying, but it's consistent when you just want a safe grind.
Assassinations Done the Smart Way
Lester's hits aren't a glitch, but they're the closest thing to "legal" cheating in Story Mode. The trick is patience. Don't rush them when they first appear, because the whole point is compounding. Finish the main story first so you're investing with real money, not scraps. Then, before each assassination, put every character's cash into the right competitor on the stock market, do the job, and watch the bump. Give it time, check the percentage gain like you're checking a dodgy crypto chart, and sell when it stops climbing. Done right, you're not talking millions—you're talking money that makes the car websites feel cheap.
Messing With the LCN
If you like experimenting, the LCN market can be nudged in small ways. One classic is buying into eCola, then going out and wrecking Sprunk vending machines—there are loads around places like Del Perro and the pier. Don't smash the wrong machines or you're basically cancelling your own effort. After a rampage, go back home and sleep a couple of days to move time along, then check your portfolio. It won't always pop the same way, but when it does, it feels like you pulled off a little hustle the game never planned for.
Armored Truck Garage Loop
This one's a bit cheeky and it's why I keep Michael handy. When an armored truck spawns, don't just crack it and run—jack the whole thing and drive it straight into Michael's garage. Save, then use sticky bombs to pop the rear doors and grab the cash without dealing with a long chase. Walk inside, sleep to advance time, and come back out to the garage to see if the truck has "reset" itself with money ready again. If it works in your session, it's a calm little farm with barely any heat, and it's the sort of routine people chase when they start looking up cheap GTA 5 Money instead of running one more heist setup.
