You've probably heard the rumors. People claim they’ve finished Grand Theft Auto V with over $2 billion sitting in the bank for Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. It sounds like a total load of crap or a PC mod, right? It isn't. Honestly, it’s just about being incredibly patient and knowing exactly when to pull the trigger on Lester’s phone. If you've been playing the game and just doing missions as they pop up, you’re basically throwing money into the Los Santos storm drains.
Stop. Just stop.
Most people treat the stock market in this game like a side hustle. It's not. It's the only way to buy the Golf Club or those high-end cinemas without grinding for three years of your real life. This gta stock market guide is going to break down the actual, factual way to manipulate the LCN and BAWSAQ exchanges so you never have to worry about the price of a customized Adder ever again.
The Golden Rule: Save the Assassinations
This is the one thing everyone messes up. You meet Lester early on, and he gives you a mission called "The Hotel Assassination." You have to do this one to progress the story. Fine. But after that? Leave him alone. Do not touch those little green "L" icons on the map until the credits have rolled.
Why? Because of "The Big Score."
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The final heist in the game drops a massive chunk of change into your lap—anywhere from $25 million to $40 million per character depending on your crew choices. If you invest $100,000 in a stock that grows 80%, you make a decent profit. If you invest $35 million in that same stock? You’re suddenly looking at enough money to buy half the city.
Understanding LCN vs. BAWSAQ
The game doesn't really explain this well, but it matters. The LCN (Liberty City National) is totally offline. It reacts to what you do in the story. If you blow up a bunch of FlyUS planes, their stock drops, and AirEmu goes up. Simple.
BAWSAQ is the "online" market. In 2026, the community influence is still there, but for the sake of these missions, it behaves predictably. Just make sure you're connected to the internet/Rockstar Games Social Club, or BAWSAQ won't even load.
The Mission-by-Mission Blueprint
Don't just wing it. If you mess up the timing, the peak disappears and you're stuck with a portfolio full of worthless cigarette stocks.
1. The Hotel Assassination (The "Starter" Pack)
Since you have to do this one early, you won't make billions here. But you should still squeeze every cent out. Before the mission, put every dollar all three characters have into Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) on the BAWSAQ.
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After you take out the target, wait. Use the "sleep" mechanic in your safehouse to advance time. Don't actually save—just enter the menu and back out. This moves the clock forward 6 to 8 hours. Once BET hits a return of roughly 21% (on modern consoles like PS5/Xbox Series X) or up to 50% (on older versions), sell it all.
Then, buy Bilkington (BIL) on the LCN. It’ll be at rock bottom. Wait a few in-game days for it to rebound. You can usually net an 80% return here if you're patient.
2. The Multi-Target Assassination
Now we're into the post-game stuff. You have millions in the bank. Before starting, buy Debonaire (DEB) on the LCN.
- The Peak: Usually around 80%.
- The Rebound: After selling DEB, immediately buy Redwood (RWC) on the LCN.
Redwood is the holy grail. It takes a while to bounce back—maybe a week of in-game time—but when it does, the return is often 300%. That's tripling your money.
3. The Vice Assassination
This one is about iFruit's rival. Buy Fruit (FRT) on BAWSAQ before the hit.
- Expected Return: 50% to 60%.
- The Rebound: Buy Facade (FAC) after it crashes. It usually bounces back for a 30% gain.
4. The Bus Assassination
This one works differently. Do not buy anything before the mission. Go hit the target. Afterward, wait for the Vapid (VAP) stock on BAWSAQ to bottom out. Once it hits its lowest point, dump everything into it. It will rebound almost exactly 100%. Double your money just for sitting in bed for two days.
5. The Construction Assassination
Our final play. Before the mission, buy GoldCoast (GCD) on the LCN.
- Expected Return: 80%.
There’s no real rebound here, so once you sell, you’re done with Lester’s schemes.
The "Save Scum" Strategy
Let’s be real: the market is finicky. Sometimes the percentages don't hit the "guide" numbers exactly.
Always make a hard manual save before you start the mission. Make another one after the mission but before you buy the stocks. This way, if you accidentally sleep through the peak and the price starts dropping, you can just reload. Stock prices update every 45 seconds to a minute in real-time. If you’re staring at the "My Portfolio" screen and the number hasn't changed, back out of the browser and go back in. It forces a refresh.
Sabotage Beyond Missions
You can actually mess with the market during free roam, though it’s way less effective than the assassinations. If you're bored, go to Los Santos International Airport. Find the planes with the "FlyUS" logo and blow them up. All of them.
Check the LCN. FlyUS stock will tank. If you bought AirEmu beforehand, you'll see a tiny tick upward. Is it worth it compared to the Billions from Lester? Not really. But it’s a fun way to feel like a corporate raider. Same goes for shooting up the Sprunk vending machines to help eCola, though the returns are so small they barely cover the cost of the sticky bombs you used.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest myth is that you can influence LifeInvader. You can't. After the mission where the phone explodes, LifeInvader is basically a dead stock. Don't buy the dip. It never comes back. You’re just donating money to a fictional dead guy.
Also, don't forget to invest with all three characters. It’s easy to get lazy and only do it with Franklin since he's the one talking to Lester. But Michael and Trevor have the same amount of cash from the final heist. If you don't switch between them and buy the stocks on all three phones, you're leaving $4 billion on the table.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're sitting on a save file right now, here is what you do:
- Check your map for the "L" icon. If it's there and you haven't finished the main story, ignore it.
- Complete "The Big Score" heist. Pick the "Obvious" approach and a talented crew if you want the maximum payout.
- Once the money hits your account, go to a safehouse.
- Hard save your game in a new slot.
- Pull up your phone, go to the BAWSAQ, and start with the first assassination strategy.
Check your portfolio every time you wake up from a sleep cycle. The moment that percentage starts to dip—even by 0.1%—sell everything immediately.