GTA Online · Ranking
GTA Online: The Best Heists, Ranked
Cayo Perico, Diamond Casino, Doomsday: we rank the best heists in GTA Online by payout and accessibility, with max takes and solo tips.
What is the best heist in GTA Online? It depends on whether you play solo or with a crew, and on what you’re after: the big check, accessibility, or the thrill. Here is our ranking of the five major heists in the game, max payouts included.
Eleven years after the first heists arrived, they are still the beating heart of GTA Online. Rockstar has stacked up five big ones, from a bank holdup to an assault on a private island, each with its own difficulty, entry price and take. Before the ranking, here is how we read them.
How we ranked these heists
We weighed three criteria. First, the payout, meaning the maximum take you can actually reach. Then accessibility: solo-friendly or a fixed player count, and above all the entry price. Finally, the fun: staging, variety of approaches, replayability. A heist that pays huge but demands four coordinated teammates doesn’t do the same job as a solo heist you can wrap in an hour. The table below sums up the raw numbers; the ranking itself balances all three.
| Heist | Release | Players | Solo? | Entry cost | Max take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayo Perico | Dec. 2020 | 1 to 4 | Yes | Kosatka $2.2M | ~$1.9M (statue) |
| Diamond Casino | Dec. 2019 | 2 to 4 | No | Arcade from $1.235M | $3.619M (diamonds) |
| Doomsday Heist | Dec. 2017 | 2 to 4 | No | Facility ~$1.25M | ~$2.25M (Act III, hard) |
| Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid | Mar. 2024 | 1 to 4 | Yes | Free | $500,000 (leader) |
| Pacific Standard Job | Mar. 2015 | 4 | No | $25,000 | $1.875M (hard) |
A useful reminder: the “max” numbers assume the highest difficulty and an ideal take. In real life, you lose a bit to various cuts and fees, and some targets (Casino diamonds, the Panther Statue) only show up during specific events.
On to the ranking, from the smartest score to the most legendary.
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The Cayo Perico Heist
Released on December 15, 2020, the heist on the island of Cayo Perico changed everything: it's the first big heist fully playable solo, from scoping to selling. Expect $1 to $1.5 million per run, and up to about $1.9 million when the Panther Statue is your primary target. Only prerequisite: the Kosatka submarine ($2.2M), quickly paid off. It's the best hourly return you can get alone, the go-to cash machine, as we detail in our guide to making money.
Official artwork. Source: Rockstar Games -
The Diamond Casino Heist
The Diamond Casino & Resort Heist (December 2019) holds the highest ceiling in the game: up to $3.619 million in gross take when the vault is full of diamonds, before Lester's cut (about 5%) and the split between 2 to 4 players. Three approaches (silent, smart, aggressive), multiple entry points and deep scoping make it the most replayable and the richest heist with a crew. One catch: diamonds are only switched on during certain events.
Official Heists event artwork. Source: Rockstar Games -
The Doomsday Heist
The Doomsday Heist (December 12, 2017) is still the most spectacular heist in GTA Online: three story-driven acts, submarines, jetpacks and a finale that saves Los Santos from a nuclear apocalypse. Act III pays about $2.25 million on hard difficulty, climbing to nearly $3.4 million with the 50% heist bonus introduced by the Criminal Enterprises update. The downside: you need a pricey Facility (about $1.25M) and, ideally, a coordinated crew of 2 to 4 players.
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The Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid
The newest one (March 7, 2024) is the most accessible of the big heists: no building to buy, a chain of story missions, and a fixed final payout of $500,000 for the leader (plus a first-time bonus). Fully doable solo, it's the ideal heist to build a starter bankroll before the Kosatka. Special mention for its plot: you take down a cartel alongside Vincent, the former Diamond Casino head of security turned cop.
Official artwork. Source: Rockstar Games -
The Pacific Standard Job
To close things out, the cult classic. The Pacific Standard Job caps the five original heists (March 2015) and remains a peak of adrenaline: a downtown Los Santos bank assault, a getaway on motorbikes under police choppers, then by speedboat through the canals. The take climbs to $1.875 million on hard (since the Criminal Enterprises buff), for just a $25,000 setup, split between four mandatory players. Not the most profitable today, but a must-play at least once. Want a totally different way to play? Check out GTA RP on FiveM.
FAQ
What is the most profitable heist in GTA Online?
By raw value, it's the Diamond Casino Heist: up to $3.619 million when the vault is loaded with diamonds, before Lester's cut (about 5%) and the split between 2 to 4 players. Solo, the best return goes to Cayo Perico, around $1 to $1.9 million per run with nobody to share it with.
Which heist can you do solo in GTA Online?
Two heists are fully playable alone, start to finish: the Cayo Perico Heist, the most profitable solo, and The Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid, which is free to start. The others (Diamond Casino, Doomsday, Pacific Standard) require at least two players for the finale.
How much does the Cayo Perico Heist pay?
Usually $1 to $1.5 million per solo run, and up to about $1.9 million when the Panther Statue comes up as the primary target. The Kosatka submarine, a one-time $2.2M purchase, unlocks the heist and pays for itself fast. We break down the loop in our guide to making money.
Do you need to buy something before starting a heist?
Almost always. Cayo Perico needs the Kosatka submarine ($2.2M), the Diamond Casino needs an arcade (from $1.235M), the Doomsday needs a Facility (about $1.25M). Only The Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid starts for free, which makes it the ideal entry point for beginners.
Will there be heists in GTA 6?
Nothing official on the GTA 6 online mode yet, but heists are the DNA of GTA Online and their return is expected. In the meantime, GTA Online keeps running: we take stock in our feature on the future of GTA Online after GTA 6.
Good scores, and drive safe with the loot. Alfred, GTA Zone.
Sources
- Confirmed Rockstar Games (Newswire): the Panther Statue returns as the primary target of the Cayo Perico Heist, with double rewards
- Confirmed Rockstar Games (Newswire): bonus payouts for robbing the Diamond Casino & Resort during the Heists event
- Confirmed Rockstar Games (Newswire): The Doomsday Heist coming December 12 to GTA Online (trailer)
- Confirmed Rockstar Games (Newswire): The Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid coming March 7 to GTA Online
- Reported GTABoom: the Diamond Casino Heist max take reaches $3,619,000 with diamonds, before Lester's cut (5%) and the split between 2 to 4 players
- Reported GTABoom: Doomsday Heist Act III pays $2,250,000 on hard difficulty, up to about $3,375,000 with the 50% heist bonus
- Reported GTABoom: the Pacific Standard Job pays up to $1,875,000 on hard (after the Criminal Enterprises buff), for a $25,000 setup, with four players
- Reported GamesRadar: The Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid pays the leader $500,000 for the final mission, with no building to buy
- Reported Dexerto: the Panther Statue, the most lucrative primary target of the Cayo Perico Heist (around $1.9 to $2M)
- Reported GTABase: the Kosatka submarine costs $2,200,000 and unlocks the Cayo Perico Heist, playable solo; target and loot breakdown
About the author
Alfred from GTA Zone
Alfred is the byline of GTA Zone, written and checked by the newsroom. Every fact is sourced and labeled Confirmed, Reported or Rumor, and every page is updated when the story moves.
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