Lester’s assassination missions in Grand Theft Auto V aren’t just about taking out targets – they are one of the smartest and most reliable ways to earn massive profits through the in-game stock market.

Lester’s Assassination Missions – How to Make Millions in GTA 5

When done correctly, these missions can turn you into a billionaire. This guide walks you through every Lester “Assassination” mission step by step, explaining exactly when to invest, when to sell, and how to squeeze the maximum profit out of each job.

TL;DR

Lester’s Assassination Missions — the exact stock strategy to make millions (or billions) in GTA 5

Lester’s assassinations are basically a stock market cheat code. Do them in the right order, invest with all three characters, and you can turn endgame money into massive returns by buying low and selling at the peak.

Before you start (most important rules)

  • Best timing: do most assassinations after finishing the main story (bigger cash pool = bigger profits).
  • Invest with everyone: Michael, Franklin, Trevor each have separate money, so buy stocks on all three.
  • Always make a manual save before each mission and before big buys (reload if prices don’t behave).
  • Use sleep to fast-forward time and hit the 24–48h peak windows faster.

Stock basics (what actually matters)

  • LCN = reacts to story events and assassinations (offline-driven).
  • BAWSAQ = more “online influenced,” but assassinations can still create predictable swings.
  • After a hit, affected stocks usually peak within 24–48 in-game hours (check often and sell at the top).

Mission-by-mission investment plan (quick)

  • 1) The Hotel Assassination (mandatory early)
    • Complete the mission first, then buy Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) on BAWSAQ.
    • Sell around the peak (often ~+50%).
  • 2) The Multi Target Assassination (best double-dip)
    • After completing: buy Debonaire (DEB) on LCN, sell at peak (often ~+80%).
    • Then immediately buy Redwood (RWC) when it’s depressed.
    • Wait several in-game days, then sell Redwood on the rebound for a second profit wave.
  • 3) The Vice Assassination
    • Before the hit: buy Fruit (FRT) on BAWSAQ.
    • After: sell when it spikes (often ~+50%).
  • 4) The Bus Assassination
    • Do NOT buy before. This one is a “buy the crash” play.
    • After the mission: wait 24–48h until Vapid (VAP) hits its low.
    • Buy Vapid, wait a few days, sell at the rebound peak (can reach ~+100%).
  • 5) The Construction Assassination (huge late-game payoff)
    • Before the hit: buy GoldCoast (GCD) on LCN.
    • After: sell at peak (often ~+80%).

Simple “sell timing” checklist

  • Check the stock every few in-game hours after the mission.
  • Sell when the % gain stops climbing and starts dipping.
  • If the spike looks weak or weird, reload your pre-mission save and rerun.

Important Tips: Finish the story, save-scum smartly, invest with all three characters, and treat each assassination like a timed market event. Do it right and you’ll be set for the rest of the game — no grinding required.

Before You Start

For the best possible results, it’s highly recommended to finish the main story before completing most of Lester’s assassination missions. This gives you access to a much larger pool of money, allowing for far greater stock market gains.

Each character – Michael, Franklin, and Trevor – has separate finances, so you’ll need to invest individually with all three. While you can’t directly transfer money between characters, you can use the same investment strategy on each one.

Always save your game before starting a mission. If the market doesn’t behave as expected, you can reload and retry with better timing. This single habit can easily save you millions.

How the Stock Market Works in GTA 5

GTA 5 features two stock exchanges:

  • BAWSAQ – Online-based, influenced by global player activity and specific in-game events.
  • LCN – Offline-based, reacts directly to story events and assassination missions.

After an assassination mission, certain stocks will either crash or skyrocket. These changes usually peak within 24–48 in-game hours. Checking prices frequently and selling at the right moment is the key to maximizing your Return on Investment (ROI).

Sleeping speeds up time, making it easier to reach peak prices quickly.

Mission 1: The Hotel Assassination

This mission is mandatory early in the story, so you’ll need to complete it even if you’re delaying the rest.

  1. Save your game before starting the mission.
  2. Complete the Hotel Assassination as Franklin.
  3. Wait around 24 in-game hours.
  4. Open BAWSAQ and invest heavily in Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) with all three characters.
  5. Monitor the stock every few hours.
  6. Sell at the peak, usually around 50% profit.
  7. Save again to lock in your earnings.

Mission 2: The Multi Target Assassination

This mission offers one of the best double-profit opportunities in the game.

  1. Save your game before starting.
  2. Complete the mission as Franklin.
  3. Immediately invest in Debonaire (LCN) with all characters.
  4. Wait 24–48 in-game hours and sell at the peak (often around 80% profit).
  5. Right after selling, invest in Redwood Cigarettes while it’s low.
  6. Wait several in-game days for the rebound.
  7. Sell Redwood at its peak for additional profit.
  8. Save again.

Two smart trades from one mission – simple timing, massive rewards.

Mission 3: The Vice Assassination

This mission affects Fruit Computers stock.

  1. Save your game before starting.
  2. Invest in Fruit (FRT) on BAWSAQ with all characters.
  3. Complete the assassination.
  4. Wait about 24 in-game hours.
  5. Sell when the stock rises by roughly 50%.

Mission 4: The Bus Assassination

This mission temporarily crashes Vapid stock, creating a perfect buy-low opportunity.

  1. Do not invest before the mission.
  2. Complete the assassination and escape.
  3. Wait 24–48 in-game hours until Vapid (VAP) hits its lowest point.
  4. Buy Vapid stock with all characters.
  5. Wait a few in-game days for the rebound.
  6. Sell at the peak, often reaching up to 100% profit.

Mission 5: The Construction Assassination

This is one of the most profitable assassination missions in the game.

  1. Save your game before starting.
  2. Invest in GoldCoast (GCD) on LCN with all characters.
  3. Complete the mission.
  4. Wait 24–48 in-game hours.
  5. Sell when GoldCoast rises by roughly 80%.

Conclusion

If you want to become truly rich in Los Santos, mastering Lester’s assassination missions is essential. These jobs aren’t just about pulling the trigger – they’re about timing, patience, and understanding the stock market.

Finish the main story first, invest heavily in the right companies, and always save before acting. Buy low, sell high, and use sleep to control the market’s timing. With smart planning and careful execution, you won’t just complete GTA 5 – you’ll own the city, the market, and everything in between.