Look, let’s be real for a second. If you’re trying to figure out how to do heists on GTA 5 Online in 2026, you’re probably tired of being broke in Los Santos. We’ve all been there. You see that shiny new Pegassi or that massive yacht, and then you look at your Maze Bank balance. It’s depressing. Honestly, the game doesn't make it easy for beginners because it throws a million icons at you the second you step out of your apartment.
The thing is, heists aren't just one "thing." They are the backbone of the entire game’s economy. If you aren't doing them, you're basically just playing a very expensive driving simulator. But here is the kicker: most people jump into the wrong heists at the wrong time. They waste hours on the Fleeca Job or prison break setups with randoms who quit the second a bullet flies near them. You have to be smarter than that. To actually make money, you need a strategy that moves you from the old-school 2015 content to the modern, solo-friendly grinds.
Getting Started With The Basics
You can't just walk into a bank and start yelling. Well, you can, but it won't trigger a heist. To learn how to do heists on GTA 5 Online, you first need a base of operations. For the original "OG" heists, that means a high-end apartment. You’ll know it’s high-end because it has a 10-car garage and costs at least $200,000. Lester Crest will give you a ring once you hit Rank 12.
Don't expect to get rich here. These original five heists—Fleeca, Prison Break, Humane Labs, Series A, and Pacific Standard—are more like a rite of passage. They require exactly four players. No more, no less. If one person leaves, the whole thing fails. It’s frustrating. It's chaotic. But it teaches you the mechanics. If you're playing with friends, it’s a blast. If you're playing with "xX_Sniper_Ghost_Xx" from a public lobby, prepare for a headache.
The Facilities and Doomsday
Later on, Rockstar added the Doomsday Heist. For this, you need a Facility. These are underground bunkers scattered around the map. This is where things get sci-fi. You're fighting AI with laser focus and dealing with invisible enemies. It’s hard. Honestly, it’s probably the hardest content in the game. You can do these with two, three, or four people. The payout is decent, but the difficulty spike is real. Most veterans suggest skipping this until you have some heavy weaponry like the Up-n-Atomizer or a solid Mk II Combat MG.
The Cayo Perico Meta
If you want to know how to do heists on GTA 5 Online for maximum profit, there is only one word you need to know: Cayo. The Cayo Perico Heist changed everything. Why? Because you can do it completely solo.
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You need the Kosatka submarine. It’s expensive—roughly $2.2 million for the base model—but it’s the best investment you’ll ever make. You go to the Music Locker under the Diamond Casino, talk to Miguel Madrazo, and buy the sub from Warstock Cache & Carry.
Once you have the sub, you’re the captain. You fly to a private island, scout out some loot, and rob a drug lord named El Rubio. The beauty of Cayo Perico is the flexibility. You can go in loud with a demolition charge or sneak in through a drainage pipe using a cutting torch. Most people prefer the "Longfin" or "Kosatka" entry points. It’s fast. You can finish the whole thing, setups included, in about an hour once you get the rhythm down.
Expert Pro Tip: Don't bother scouting every single item on the island. Just find the primary target and maybe some gold or cocaine at the docks. Speed is your friend. The more time you spend scouting, the lower your hourly profit becomes.
The Diamond Casino Grind
Before Cayo Perico, the Diamond Casino Heist was king. It still holds up if you have at least one reliable friend. To start this, you need an Arcade.
What makes the Casino heist special is the "Approach" system. You have three ways to do it:
- Silent & Sneaky: Basically Splinter Cell. If you get caught, it’s a nightmare.
- The Big Con: The fun one. You dress up as maintenance workers, or Gruppe Sechs security, and literally walk into the vault.
- Aggressive: You bring big guns and thermal charges. You take more damage, which means you lose more money from your take, but it’s straightforward.
The trick is to rotate between Big Con and Silent & Sneaky. The game won't let you do the same approach twice in a row, and if you do it every other time, the "Hard" mode kicks in, giving you a bigger payout. Always aim for the "Gruppe Sechs" disguise for the Big Con. It is, hands down, the easiest way to get in and out without firing a single bullet.
Why Most Heists Fail (And How to Fix It)
People fail heists for three reasons: bad teammates, bad equipment, and rushing.
When you’re learning how to do heists on GTA 5 Online, you need to invest in a Heavy Utility Vest. It only works in the original heists, but it doubles your health. You move slower, but you won't die in two hits.
Also, snacks and armor. Open your interaction menu. Eat a P’s & Q’s while you’re behind cover. It instantly refills your health. If you aren't spamming snacks during a shootout, you're doing it wrong. This is the difference between a successful run and a "Heist Failed" screen that makes your teammates quit the lobby in rage.
Communication is the other big one. You don't necessarily need a mic, but you do need to follow the leader. If the host says "don't shoot," don't shoot. GTA AI is notorious for having "aimbot" accuracy at higher levels. Once a stealth mission goes loud, the difficulty triples.
Understanding the Payouts
The "Take" you see on the screen isn't what you get. Lester takes a cut. The crew takes a cut. The setup costs money.
In the original heists, the host (you) pays the setup cost and gets $0 for all the setup missions. The associates get paid for each mission. To be fair, the host usually takes 40% or 50% of the final finale, while the others take 15% or 20%. In the Diamond Casino and Cayo Perico, you can manipulate these percentages however you want. If you're playing with randoms, the standard is 15%. If they demand more, they’re usually not worth the trouble.
The Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid
Recently, Rockstar added the Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid. It’s technically categorized under "Contact Missions" by some, but it plays exactly like a mini-heist. The best part? There is zero buy-in cost.
If you're a brand-new player and you're wondering how to do heists on GTA 5 Online without any money in your pocket, this is your starting point. You get a call from Vincent (the former head of security at the Casino). You do a few setups, steal some gear, and hit a cartel drug operation running out of a chicken factory. It pays a flat $500,000. It’s the perfect way to fund your first high-end apartment or save up for that Kosatka.
Essential Gear for Heist Success
Don't go into a heist with a pistol and a dream. You need a loadout.
- Armored Kuruma: This car is a cheat code. It’s almost entirely bulletproof. You can sit inside it during setups and just pick off enemies without taking a scratch.
- Combat MG Mk II: The workhorse. High damage, huge magazine.
- Heavy Sniper Mk II with Explosive Rounds: Great for taking out those annoying Valkyrie helis in the Doomsday Heist.
- AP Pistol: The best weapon to use while driving.
Honestly, the Armored Kuruma should be your first major purchase. It makes the "how" of doing heists significantly easier because it removes the risk of dying during the travel and setup phases.
Final Roadmap to Riches
To wrap this up, don't overcomplicate things. The path to becoming a heist master follows a very specific trajectory. Start with the Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid to get your first half-million. Use that to buy a cheap high-end apartment like Del Perro Heights, Apt 7. Complete the Fleeca Job just to get the trade price on the Kuruma.
From there, ignore the other OG heists unless you have three solid friends. Grind until you can afford the Kosatka. Once you have the sub, you’ve basically won the game. You can run Cayo Perico solo, make $1 million plus per hour, and use that money to buy the Arcade and the Agency (which has its own "Dr. Dre" contract that is essentially another solo heist).
The trick is consistency. Don't get discouraged by the loading screens or the occasional griefer. Stay in "Invite Only" sessions while doing your heist setups—Rockstar finally allowed this a while back, and it’s a lifesaver. You can do all your prep work without some kid on an Oppressor Mk II blowing you up.
Next Steps for Players:
- Check your phone for a text from Vincent to start the Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid.
- Save $2.2 million for the Kosatka submarine.
- Always stock up on snacks and body armor at the nearest convenience store or your CEO office before starting any finale.
- Enter "Invite Only" mode via the Online menu to do setups in peace.