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GTA 5 investment guide: money-making tips and tricks

If you want to make a tremendous amount of money in Grand Theft Auto 5, then this GTA 5 investment guide is the best blueprint that you can follow. Investing in the single-player game is sort of a side activity that requires extreme levels of patience and planning. While you can start investing at any point, missing the key factors will produce unpredictable results. Therefore, serious grinders and investors should always follow a GTA V investment guide to reap the full benefits.

The investment process in Grand Theft Auto 5 is very long. While some of the investments you have to make early in the game; for others, you will have to wait till the main story is over. Therefore, to help the players, this GTA 5 investment guide provides you with the best investment solutions for the maximum benefits.

Note: The GTA 5 investment guide contains spoilers about the plot of the game. Some parts of this article are subjective and only reflect the writer’s opinions.


GTA 5 investment guide: Best stocks to buy

The BAWSAQ office building in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The BAWSAQ office building in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Games offers 80 stocks in Grand Theft Auto 5 listed in two different exchange markets. While you have the liberty to trade in any stock, this investment guide advises players to keep an eye on the following 10 stocks only (in chronological order):

  1. Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET)
  2. Bilkinton Research (BIL)
  3. Merryweather (MER)
  4. Debonaire (DEB)
  5. Redwood (RWC)
  6. Fruit (FRT)
  7. Facade (FAC)
  8. Vapid (VAP)
  9. GoldCoast (GCD)
  10. Tinkle (TNK)

These 10 stocks have the power to make Michel De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips billionaires in the game. However, GTA 5 players must know when to invest in which stock and how long they can wait before withdrawing the money.

Moreover, the aforementioned stocks are listed in both markets. As a result, it is extremely important to know how to manipulate the markets for your personal gains.


GTA 5 investment guide: Introduction to the markets

The front page of the Liberty City National Exchange stock market in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The front page of the Liberty City National Exchange stock market in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Games offers the following two stock markets in Grand Theft Auto 5:

  • Liberty City National Exchange (LCN)
  • BAWSAQ

The LCN market hosts 41 stocks and the BAWSAQ market hosts 39 stocks in total. During the stock market grinding process, we will be using both these exchanges to make money. But, before that, you should understand how they work.

The Liberty City National Exchange stock market is a completely offline market where the stocks go up and down depending on what happens in Grand Theft Auto 5’s storyline. The BAWSAQ also follows the same rule. But, it also has influences from other players’ activities. The BAWSAQ market is linked with Rockstar Games Social Club and the stock values change depending on how other players trade in the market. As of now, there is no GTA Online investment guide. Therefore, players should focus on the story mode only.

The front page of the BAWSAQ stock market in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The front page of the BAWSAQ stock market in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Moreover, this exchange always needs an active internet connection. Therefore, GTA 5 investment guide readers are advised always to keep their gaming platforms connected to the internet.

To access these markets, follow the steps outlined below:

  1. Open the in-game internet browser on the in-game phone.
  2. Click on the Money and Services option.
  3. Click on the LCN or BAWSAQ link.
The LCN and BAWSAQ markets are listed on the in-game internet in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The LCN and BAWSAQ markets are listed on the in-game internet in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

The following is the classification of the aforementioned stocks according to their markets:

Liberty City National Exchange (LCN)-

  • Merryweather (MER)
  • Debonaire (DEB)
  • Redwood (RWC)
  • GoldCoast (GCD)
  • Bilkinton Research (BIL)

BAWSAQ exchange-

  • Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET)
  • Fruit (FRT)
  • Facade (FAC)
  • Vapid (VAP)
  • Tinkle (TNK)

As you have learned the basics about the stock market and the stocks to trade, we will now discuss the correct method of trading to make the most money. By following the GTA 5 investment guide, you can certainly become a millionaire in Grand Theft Auto 5, and touch the billionaire status if you save enough money before starting the process.


GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) stock

The Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

To make money from the Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) stock, players must utilize The Hotel Assassination mission, which is a part of Lester’s Assassination missions. The GTA investment guide advises you to do the following to make profits:

  1. Invest all your money in Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET).
  2. Complete The Hotel Assassination mission.
  3. Stay as Franklin Clinton and save the game a few times until the stock value grows by 50%.
  4. Sell the stock.

GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Bilkinton Research (BIL)

The Bilkinton Research (BIL) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The Bilkinton Research (BIL) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Bilkinton Research (BIL) stock is also related to The Hotel Assassination mission and you must trade in it immediately after selling the Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) stock. Grand Theft Auto series fans should not waste any moment and do the things listed below:

  1. Invest all the money in the Bilkinton Research (BIL) stock.
  2. Change the character to Trevor Philips and save the game six to eight times.
  3. As soon as the stock value goes above 80%, sell the holdings.

GTA players should note down two important things related to this trade: Switching to Trevor Philips is important before saving the game, and you must not trade in anything after this stock and mission, until the finale.


Rockstar Games gives players the following three options to conclude the finale of Grand Theft Auto 5:

  • Option A: Kill Trevor (Something Sensible)
  • Option B: Kill Michael (The Time's Come)
  • Option C: Deathwish (The Third Way)

While it is recommended to play all three endings by creating and reloading a save file just before the finale, the GTA 5 stock investment guide advises you to select Option C: Deathwish (The Third Way) to make money from trading.

Selecting Option A will kill Trevor Philips and Option B will kill Michael De Santa, and will permanently remove them from the game. Therefore, you should choose Option C where each of the protagonists stays alive, and you can make all of them rich.


GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Merryweather (MER) stock

The Merryweather (MER) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The Merryweather (MER) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

To trade in the Merryweather (MER) stock, you must keep Michael De Santa alive, as he is the one who will get the hint of the trading time. Once the Deathwish mission is finished, roam for a while as Michael in GTA 5 until you receive an email from Donald "Don" Percival. At the same time, Lester Crest should also send you the cut from The Big Score Heist where you looted The Union Depository bank.

Once these conditions are met, the GTA 5 investment guide suggests you do the following:

  1. Invest all the money in Merryweather (MER) stock.
  2. Change to Trevor Philips and save the game multiple times.
  3. Repeat the latter part of the second step until the stock value goes above 70%.
  4. Once it has crossed the threshold mark, sell the holdings.

Keep in mind that it may take several in-game weeks for the Merryweather (MER) stock to reach 70%. The value may fluctuate up and down multiple times during the process. GTA 5 story investment guide suggests you keep calm and rinse and repeat the process until you can reap a 70% profit.

After this trade, we will go back to Lester’s Assassination missions again for the final stretch of the investment journey.


GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Debonaire (DEB) stock

The Debonaire (DEB) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The Debonaire (DEB) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Once you have gained all the profits, it is time to make money from the Debonaire (DEB) stock. The GTA 5 investment guide suggests you do the following accordingly:

  1. Invest all the money in Debonaire (DEB) stock.
  2. Complete The Multi Target Assassination from Lester Crest.
  3. Stay as Franklin Clinton and save the game a few times.
  4. Sell the holdings as soon as the stock value reaches around 35%.

GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Redwood (RWC) stock

The Redwood (RWC) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The Redwood (RWC) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Once done with the Debonaire (DEB) stock, immediately move to Redwood (RWC) stock without doing anything. The GTA 5 investment guide suggests the following steps:

  1. Invest all the money in Redwood (RWC) stock.
  2. Change the character to Trevor Philips and save the game six to eight times.
  3. Reload the save file and re-save it again.
  4. When the stock value crosses 100%, sell all holdings of Redwood (RWC).

GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Fruit (FRT) stock

The Fruit (FRT) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The Fruit (FRT) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Fruit (FRT) stock is related to The Vice Assassination mission. While the profits from this trade are relatively low, you should make a good amount if you invest a large capital. The steps are as follows:

  1. Invest all the money in Fruit (FRT) stock.
  2. Complete The Vice Assassination by killing a character named Jackson Skinner.
  3. Stay as Franklin Clinton and save the game four to six times.
  4. The stock value should reach around 25%.
  5. Sell all the holdings.

GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Facade (FAC) stock

The Facade (FAC) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The Facade (FAC) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Facade (FAC) stock is also related to The Vice Assassination mission by Lester Crest. Therefore, GTA V single player investment guide readers should do these steps immediately:

  1. Invest all the money in Facade (FAC) stock.
  2. Change the character to Trevor Philips and save the game six to eight times.
  3. Once the stock value crosses 25%, sell all the holdings.

GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Vapid (VAP) stock

The Vapid (VAP) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The Vapid (VAP) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

While you may think that the Vapid (VAP) stock also requires you to invest money before starting a mission, that is not the case here. This money-making method in GTA 5 is slightly different than others. Readers are suggested to follow these steps:

  1. Start and complete The Bus Assassination mission.
  2. Invest all the money in Vapid (VAP) stock.
  3. Change the playable character to Trevor Philips and save the game four to eight times.
  4. The stock value should reach 90% in profits.
  5. Sell all the holdings at once.

GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the GoldCoast (GCD) stock

The GoldCoast (GCD) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The GoldCoast (GCD) stock page in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

GoldCoast (GCD) is the last stock that we will be trading with Lester’s Assassination missions. The Construction Assassination is the last assassination from Lester Crest and it is directly related to the GoldCoast (GCD) stock. The GTA 5 investment guide advises you to follow the below-mentioned steps accordingly:

  1. Invest all the money in GoldCoast (GCD) stock.
  2. Complete The Construction Assassination by killing Enzo Bonelli.
  3. Stay as Franklin Clinton and save the game three to four times.
  4. When the stock value reaches 50% in profits, sell all of the holdings.

After this, your main part of the GTA V invest guide is over. If you have done all the steps correctly, all of the three characters should become billionaires by now. However, there is still one stock left that you can trade.


GTA 5 investment guide: Trading the Tinkle (TNK) stock

The spawn location of the Hitch Lift 1 mission in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)
The spawn location of the Hitch Lift 1 mission in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

To make money from the Tinkle (TNK) stock, you need the Hitch Lift 1 mission. However, it is a random event, of which the spawn condition is still unknown. Regardless, if you get the mission, the GTA 5 investment guide advises you to follow these steps:

  1. Invest all the money in Tinkle (TNK) stock before engaging in the mission.
  2. Deliver Timm to Los Santos International Airport on time.
  3. Stay as Franklin Clinton and save the game a few times.
  4. When the stock value is around 30%, sell all the holdings.

GTA fans can still invest in the stock market after this trade. But, there is no guarantee whether you will make profits or losses after the Tinkle (TNK) trade.

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