GTA 5 Heists & Endings: All 6 Heists, 69 Missions and the Best Ending

The GTA 5 heists are the heart of the story. Each one has planning, a crew to hire and — for most of them — a choice between two very different approaches. This guide covers all six heists, the best choices for money and fun, how many missions are in the story, and how the three endings work, with spoilers kept light.

Story missions

69 (needed for 100%)

Heists

6

Heists with a choice of approach

4

Endings

3 (A, B, C)

Best ending

C — “The Third Way”

Strangers and Freaks missions

20 count toward 100%

How many missions are in GTA 5?

GTA 5 story mode has 69 story missions that count toward 100% completion. Because some heists have two approaches and there are three possible endings, the game actually contains more mission variations than you can play in one run — you will only see one version of each choice per playthrough. On top of the story, there are 20 Strangers and Freaks missions, random events, hobbies and other tasks on the 100% checklist.

All 6 GTA 5 heists

The Jewel Store Job: Loud or Smart?

The first big heist sends Michael and Franklin to rob the Vangelico jewelry store. The Smart approach uses knockout gas pumped through the air vents, so the staff are asleep and nobody has to die. The Loud approach storms in with assault rifles. Smart is easier and usually gives a bigger take because there is less chaos and fewer losses. Pick a cheap but decent driver and gunman to keep more of the money.

The Merryweather Heist: Offshore or Freighter?

This heist steals a secret device from the private military company Merryweather. Offshore uses a submarine and a cargobob helicopter to grab the device from a ship at sea, while Freighter has you board the ship and fight your way out. Offshore is the more memorable, cinematic option and avoids a long gunfight, so it’s our pick.

Blitz Play and The Paleto Score

These two heists have only one approach. Blitz Play is an armored-truck robbery in Los Santos, and it’s where many players first notice how useful Trevor’s rage ability is. The Paleto Score is a bank robbery in the small northern town of Paleto Bay with heavy armor and a huge police and army response. Bring a good gunman — the extra firepower really helps in Paleto.

The Bureau Raid: Fire Crew or Roof Entry?

Here the crew breaks into the FIB building to steal data. In Fire Crew, the team poses as firefighters after starting a fire. In Roof Entry, you parachute or rappel in from above. Fire Crew is the fan favorite because it is clever and fun, and it uses the fire truck and uniforms you prepared in the setup missions.

The Big Score: Subtle or Obvious?

The final heist targets the Union Depository’s gold. Subtle swaps the gold out with fake trucks, which is quieter and lower risk. Obvious is a full action movie: helicopters lift the vault cars right out of the building. Both pay well. Choose Obvious if you want spectacle and Subtle if you want the safest, smoothest run.

Which heist pays the most?

The Big Score has the biggest payout by far. Your exact cut depends on your approach and crew choices. After The Big Score, all three characters have millions in the bank — the perfect moment to start Lester’s stock-market assassinations. Our GTA 5 money guide explains that plan step by step.

GTA 5 endings explained (spoiler-light)

Near the end, Franklin is pushed to make a big decision about his two partners. You get three choices:

Endings A and B are short and sad, and you lose a playable character — plus all of their money — for the rest of the game. Ending C is longer, more action-packed and keeps all three characters alive, so you can keep playing as Michael, Franklin and Trevor after the credits. That’s why almost everyone calls Ending C the best GTA 5 ending.

Tips before you start the heists

• 🔫 Upgrade weapons first. Buy armor and suppressors at Ammu-Nation before setup missions.
• 🚗 Pick a fast getaway car. Some heists let you choose or prepare the getaway vehicle — a quick, sturdy car helps a lot.
• 🧠 Use special abilities. Michael’s slow-motion aiming, Franklin’s slow-motion driving and Trevor’s rage mode make tough moments easier.
• 💾 Save between missions. GTA 5 has checkpoints, but a manual save before each heist protects your choices.

GTA 5 heist crew members

Most heists let you hire a crew. Each member takes a percentage of the take, and better members cost more. Here are the main options:

Packie McReary — the brother of Kate from GTA 4 — and Taliana Martinez are unlocked through random events, so help them when you see them. Every crew member who survives a heist gets better, so a cheap member used early can become a great one later.

Setup missions: what to expect

Before each heist you’ll play several “setup” missions: stealing vehicles, scouting locations, getting gear or uniforms. These are required, and some depend on the approach you choose. For example, the Smart approach for the Jewel Store Job needs you to steal knockout gas from a truck, while the Fire Crew approach for the Bureau Raid needs a fire truck and outfits. Take your time — a good setup makes the heist itself easier.

How long is GTA 5’s story?

Most players finish the main story in roughly 30 hours. Doing side missions, collectibles and 100% completion can easily double that. The heists are spread across the whole story, with The Big Score near the very end.

Does your heist choice change the ending?

No. Heist approaches change how a mission plays and how much money you take home, but they don’t change which ending you get. Only Franklin’s final choice decides the ending. That means you can choose heist approaches purely for fun and money.

What to do after the story

Once the credits roll, there is still a lot left: finishing the 20 Strangers and Freaks missions, collecting the hidden spaceship parts and letter scraps, and hunting the famous UFOs. Our GTA 5 secrets and easter eggs guide has the best ones, and our GTA 5 cheats list is perfect for free-roam fun after you finish.