You’ve probably heard the rumors that you can make $2 billion in Los Santos. It’s not just clickbait. Honestly, if you finish the main story and still find yourself scraping for change to customize a single Comet, you've missed the biggest "legal" heist in the game. Basically, the stock market GTA 5 Lester missions are the only way to hit the absolute cash cap on all three characters.
Most people mess this up by being impatient. They do Lester’s hits as soon as they pop up on the map. That is a massive mistake. If you want to buy every property and every gold-plated jet, you have to treat these assassinations like a long-term investment portfolio, not just a series of fun sniper missions.
The One Golden Rule You Cannot Ignore
Wait. Seriously.
You have to finish the final heist, "The Big Score," before you touch four out of the five Lester missions. By the end of the story, Michael, Franklin, and Trevor should have around $30 million each. If you invest that kind of capital into the stocks Lester manipulates, the returns are astronomical. We’re talking about turning $30 million into $2.1 billion. If you do the missions early, you’re only multiplying a few thousand bucks. That’s chump change.
Only the first mission, "The Hotel Assassination," is required to move the story forward. For everything else, leave that green "L" on the map alone until the credits have rolled.
How the LCN and BAWSAQ Actually Work
It's kinda weird, but the game uses two different exchanges. The LCN (Liberty City National) is strictly offline. It reacts to your story choices. The BAWSAQ used to be influenced by the real-world community, but in 2026, it mostly functions as a secondary scripted market for these missions.
Timing is everything here. After a hit, a stock will peak. If you wait too long, it crashes back down. If you sell too early, you leave millions on the table. You’ve got to use the "Save Sleep" trick. Go to your safehouse, lie down to save, but then back out of the menu without actually saving. This advances time by 6 to 12 hours depending on the character. Trevor sleeps the longest (12 hours), so use him to fast-forward the clock.
The Hotel Assassination: Your Starting Capital
This is the only one you have to do early. Since you won't have much money yet, the profit won't be life-changing, but it sets the stage.
Before you start, put every cent from all three characters into Betta Pharmaceuticals (BET) on the BAWSAQ. Once the CEO of Bilkington is gone, the stock will skyrocket.
Wait about 24 in-game hours. You’re looking for a return of roughly 40% to 50% on modern consoles. Sell everything. Now, here is the "pro" move most people forget: Bilkington (BIL) on the LCN just tanked. Wait about 72 in-game hours for it to bottom out, then buy it low. It will eventually rebound, giving you another 80% to 100% gain.
The Multi Target Assassination: The Double Dip
This is where the real money starts. You’re taking out four jurors who are being bribed by a cigarette company.
- Step 1: Before the mission, dump all your endgame heist money into Debonaire (DEB) on the LCN.
- Step 2: Complete the hit.
- Step 3: Debonaire will peak at about 60% to 80% profit. Sell it all immediately.
- Step 4: Look at Redwood (RWC). It just crashed. Invest everything into Redwood right after selling Debonaire.
- Step 5: This is a long wait. It can take up to 48 or 72 in-game hours. But when it rebounds, it hits nearly 300%.
You just quadrupled your money. Think about that. If you had $30 million, you now have $120 million.
The Vice Assassination: Simple Gains
This one is less complex but still vital. You’re hitting a guy involved in a prostitution ring to help out Fruit Computers.
Invest in Fruit (FRT) on the BAWSAQ before the mission. After the hit, it usually jumps about 50%. Sell it. Some people try to buy the competitor, Facade, on the rebound, but the gains are often tiny compared to the Redwood play. Honestly, just take the Fruit profits and move on.
The Bus Assassination: The "Buy the Dip" Masterclass
This one is unique. Do not buy anything before the mission. You’re killing a billionaire who is a cheapskate. After the mission, the stock for Vapid (VAP) on the BAWSAQ will absolutely crater.
📖 Related: Pokémon GO Spotlight Hours: Why You Shouldn't Skip These Tuesday Sessions
Wait for it to hit its floor. This usually takes about two days of in-game time. Once it's as low as it can go, buy in with every dollar you have. The rebound is a guaranteed 100% profit. You are literally doubling your entire net worth in one trade.
The Construction Assassination: The Final Payout
This is the last big one. You're helping a developer named Enzo Bonelli "retire" early.
Invest in Gold Coast (GCD) on the LCN before you head to the construction site. After the chaos, the stock should climb by about 80%. Sell it and check your bank account. If you did everything right and started with your heist money, each character should be sitting on roughly $2.1 billion.
Why Your Profits Might Vary
Sometimes the market is finicky. If you’re playing on an older version of the game or a specific console, the percentages might be slightly different.
Always, and I mean always, make a manual save before you start the mission and before you buy the stock. If the stock doesn't peak at the percentage you expected, just reload. The "reload" is your best friend.
Also, keep an eye on the day of the week. The markets don't move on Saturdays and Sundays. If you’re sleeping to advance time and nothing is happening, check your phone. It might just be the weekend in Los Santos.
👉 See also: Unexpectedly Naughty Fukami Videos: Why the Wadanohara Fandom is Losing Its Mind
Actionable Next Steps for Max Cash
- Finish the Story: Do not touch Lester’s "L" icons until the Big Score is finished and the money is in your account.
- Clean Your Portfolio: Sell any random stocks you're holding before starting the cycle to ensure 100% of your liquidity is available.
- The Multi-Character Buy: Remember to switch between Michael, Franklin, and Trevor to buy the stocks on each of their phones. The game doesn't do this for you.
- Use the "Save Without Saving" Trick: Advance time quickly by using the bed in your safehouse.
- Check the Percentage: Don't just look at the share price; look at the "Return %" in your portfolio tab.
By following this sequence, you aren't just playing a game; you're essentially using a developer-sanctioned cheat code to become a billionaire.