GTA Online
How to make your first million in GTA Online
You don't need Shark Cards to reach your first million in Grand Theft Auto Online. You need a sensible order: free missions first, then one good business, then a heist.
The order we'd follow
- Run contact missions from Lamar and others, on Hard if you can.
- Do the free First Dose missions for the Acid Lab.
- Do Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid for a big first payout with no property needed.
- Check the weekly event for 2X money.
- Save for the Kosatka and Cayo Perico.
Early money ideas
| Activity | Needs | Why it's good |
|---|---|---|
| Contact missions | Nothing | Easy early cash and rank |
| Simeon's Export Requests | Rank 10 | Simple car deliveries |
| Treasure Hunt | Nothing | One-off payout |
| Cluckin' Bell | Nothing major | Strong weekly first-time bonus |
Make every hour count
- Play in Invite Only sessions, so nobody can destroy your deliveries.
- Do your weekly bonuses first.
- Keep a business running while you do other jobs.
- Don't spend on cars until your income is steady.
Payouts change
Rockstar adjusted the economy again in July 2026, and older guides overstate some payouts. We avoid quoting exact figures for that reason. Check the mission's current reward in game.
How long will it take?
If you've got the Career Builder and you follow the order above, a few focused sessions should get you there. Without it, you're starting from zero, so expect it to take longer. The biggest time-wasters are buying cars early and running deliveries in public sessions.
Are Shark Cards worth it?
We'd skip them, at least at first. A new player with lots of money tends to buy the wrong things. If you do buy some later, wait until you know what you want, and remember that nothing suggests they'll carry into a future game.
A sample evening
- Claim any weekly bonus activity first.
- Do a Cluckin' Bell run, or your best weekly mission.
- Restock your business while you work.
- Sell when your stock is full, in an Invite Only session.
Do things in the right sessions
Public sessions are fun, but they aren't where you want to make money. Other players can blow up your deliveries, and you can lose everything from a sale in seconds. Do your money jobs in an Invite Only session, and go public when you're ready to play around. For more about keeping safe, read the beginner's guide.