Most people who ask how to get "legal" rich in Los Santos aren't talking about playing nice. They mean no dupes, no shady glitches, no mod menus—stuff that can nuke your character overnight. If you treat it like a routine instead of a miracle, the cash starts to stack. I keep a simple rule in mind: do one big active payout, then let the businesses tick while I mess around, and track it all like GTA 5 Money is just another resource I'm managing.

The Solo ATM That Actually Works

If you're starting from "I've got nothing," the Kosatka is still the big turning point. Cayo Perico is basically the only top-tier grind that doesn't demand a perfect crew or a Discord schedule. The first few runs feel clunky, sure. Then you learn where guards usually look, which entrances waste time, and what loot is worth grabbing. After that it's muscle memory. You can clear it in under an hour, hit a solid take, and log off without feeling like you wasted your evening.

Passive Income So You Don't Burn Out

Running heists back-to-back gets old fast, so set up income that doesn't need you babysitting it. The Acid Lab is a great "low drama" option: resupply, let it cook, sell when it's full, done. The Nightclub is the long game. Keep popularity up, upgrade production, and tie it to other businesses so it actually fills. Then you just swing by, empty the safe, and do a warehouse sale when it's worth the trip. It's not instant, but it's the kind of money that quietly shows up while you're doing other stuff.

Small Wins Between Cooldowns

Here's what a lot of players skip: the quick weekly stuff. Time Trials and the HSW/RC variants (when they're up) can be an easy six figures if you've got a decent car and you don't panic on corners. Mix in Agency work too. Payphone Hits and Security Contracts aren't glamorous, but they're steady, and they keep you moving while other timers tick down. If you rotate these—heist prep, a trial, a contract, a sell mission—you avoid that "waiting around in free roam" feeling.

Story Mode: The Real Money Is in Timing

In single-player, you can absolutely end up absurdly rich, but it's all about patience. Save Lester's assassination missions until you've finished the main story and you're sitting on bigger piles of cash from the heists. Then invest before each hit, swap to the right stock after, and give it time to climb. It's a bit nerdy, and you'll mess up one or two if you rush it, but when it clicks you'll watch your balance jump like crazy. If you're chasing that "I never have to think about cash again" feeling, the slow-and-smart route beats shortcuts every time, especially if you're tempted to buy GTA 5 Money just to skip the grind entirely mid-run."