Ready to master every major heist in Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online?

TL;DR

GTA V & GTA Online Heists — quick mastery guide

Every major heist explained fast: what matters, who to bring, and how to make the most money.

Story Mode heists (single-player)

  • The Jewel Store Job – Stealth or loud. A skilled hacker + driver = more cash.
  • The Merryweather Heist – Ship or airport version. No payout, story-critical only.
  • The Paleto Score – Loud shootout. Strong gunman keeps more money.
  • The Bureau Raid – Stealth or force. Good hacker gives more time to steal data.
  • The Big Score – Union Depository. Biggest payday. Skilled crew = smoother run, smaller cuts.

GTA Online heists — how they evolved

  • Classic heists (Fleeca, Prison Break) – Apartment-based, teamwork heavy.
  • Doomsday Heist – Facility-based, story-driven, high difficulty.
  • Diamond Casino Heist – Multiple approaches, Arcade HQ.
  • Cayo Perico Heist – First true solo heist, Submarine HQ, best solo money maker.

Planning & setup basics

  • Complete setup missions to gather intel, gear, and vehicles.
  • Story Mode: pick crew roles carefully (skill vs. cut trade-off).
  • Online: choose entry points, exits, and prep missions wisely.

Solo vs crew play

  • Solo: full payout, slower and riskier (Cayo Perico recommended).
  • Crew: faster, safer, role-based gameplay (Casino & Doomsday shine here).

Payout snapshot

  • Big Score: $10–$20M (story)
  • Diamond Casino: $2–$3M
  • Cayo Perico: $1–$2M (solo-friendly)
  • Doomsday: up to $1.5M

Important tips: Smart crew choices, proper setups, and picking the right heist for solo or team play are what separate messy jobs from clean million-dollar runs.

This ultimate heist guide breaks down setup steps, smart strategies, crew roles, payout tips, and solo vs. team play – so you can plan, execute, and cash in like a pro. Los Santos is waiting – are you ready to make some money?

Story Mode Heists

The Jewel Store Job – Michael and Franklin rob a jewellery store, and you can choose to approach the heist either stealthily or loudly. Hiring a skilled hacker and driver helps you earn more money from the job.

The Merryweather Heist – Trevor leads a mission to steal weapons, with two possible versions: one takes place on a ship, and the other at the airport. Although you don’t receive any payment, the mission is crucial to the storyline.

The Paleto Score – This is a loud and intense bank robbery in a small town. You must fight off waves of police. Choosing a strong gunman helps you keep more of the stolen money.

The Bureau Raid – You break into the FIB building and can choose between a stealthy or loud approach. The mission requires a hacker, a gunman, and a driver. A skilled hacker gives you more time to steal valuable data.

The Big Score – This is the final and largest heist, where you rob the Union Depository. You can choose to go in quietly or loudly. Hiring a highly skilled crew improves the outcome but they take a larger share of the money.

Online Heists Evolution

GTA Online heists have changed a lot since 2015. Early ones like the Fleeca Job and Prison Break are classic story heists that need teamwork and an apartment. The Doomsday Heist added a big story and starts from a Facility.

In 2019, the Diamond Casino Heist let players choose how to rob the casino, using an Arcade. In 2020, the Cayo Perico Heist became the first solo heist, set on a private island and launched from a submarine.

Each heist has setup missions, special roles, and different ways to play – some need a team, others can be done alone.

Heist Setup and Planning

Before starting a heist in GTA 5 or GTA Online, players must complete setup missions. These missions help gather important information, steal gear, and prepare for the final job.

In Story Mode, you choose crew members like drivers, hackers, and gunmen – better crew means a smoother heist but costs more money. You also pick how to do the heist: quietly or with force.

In Online mode, planning depends on the type of heist. You often need to collect intel, get special vehicles or weapons, and decide your entry and exit points. Good planning helps you earn more and avoid mistakes during the final mission.

Solo and Crew Strategies

In GTA Online, players can choose to do heists alone or with a crew. Playing solo gives you full control and a bigger share of the money, but it can be harder and slower.

The Cayo Perico Heist is the best choice for solo players because it’s designed for one person and offers a high payout.

Playing with a crew is faster and easier because each player has a special role, like hacking, driving, or fighting. A team can cover more tasks at once and help in tough missions.

Heists like the Diamond Casino or Doomsday are better with a crew because they need good teamwork and coordination.

Payouts and Efficiency

Heists in GTA 5 and GTA Online offer big payouts, but earnings depend on crew, difficulty, and strategy.

Skilled crew help more but take a larger cut. In Online mode, harder missions pay more, and solo play gives full payout but takes more effort. Smart planning boosts profit and speed.

Quick Heist Reference Guide

  • The Jewel Store Job (Story Mode) – Steal jewels using stealth or loud approach. Best with a good hacker and driver. Solo with AI crew. Payout: around $2.5 million.
  • The Merryweather Heist (Story Mode) – Steal weapons from a ship or airport. No payout, but important for the story. Needs strong shooters. Solo with AI crew.
  • The Paleto Score (Story Mode) – Loud bank robbery with heavy police. Best with a skilled gunman. Solo with AI crew. Payout: around $8 million.
  • The Bureau Raid (Story Mode) – Break into FIB building using stealth or force. Needs hacker, gunman, and driver. Solo with AI crew. Payout: around $4 million.
  • The Big Score (Story Mode) – Final heist – rob the Union Depository. Choose stealth or loud. Needs full crew. Solo with AI crew. Payout: $10–$20 million.
  • Fleeca Job (Online Mode) – Small bank robbery with simple setup. Best for beginners. 2 players. Payout: $50,000–$150,000.
  • Prison Break (Online Mode) – Free a prisoner and escape. Needs good teamwork. 4 players. Payout: $200,000–$400,000.
  • Doomsday Heist (Online Mode) – Big story with setups and final mission. Needs strong weapons and teamwork. 2–4 players. Payout: $900,000–$1.5 million.
  • Diamond Casino Heist (Online Mode) – Rob the casino using stealth, disguise, or force. Choose your approach. 2–4 players. Payout: $2–$3 million.
  • Cayo Perico Heist (Online Mode) – Steal loot from a private island. Can be done solo or with a team. Best for solo players. Payout: $1–$2 million.

Conclusion

Heists aren’t just missions – they’re your ticket to cash, story progress, and endless replay value. With this walkthrough, you can mix up your approach, switch your crew, and keep the action going!