Throughout early renditions of the Grand Theft Auto series, money seemed superfluous. Completing GTA 3 for the first time left me with well over a million dollars in my virtual wallet with nothing to spend it on. When its successor was released a year later, money became an integral part of the game, almost like a silent second protagonist.
Within the confines of the sprawling metropolis that is Vice City, money is a dire necessity. This becomes apparent the moment Tommy Vercetti gets off the plane when a deal goes awry. From upgrading your arsenal or purchasing a new hideout to save your progress, to scraping together a few extra bucks to afford the expensive Malibu Club asset, you're going to need some cash to do it. Here are just a few ways to make money throughout the game.
GTA Vice City: Money Making Guide
Story & Side Missions
As you progress through the main story missions, additional opportunities will present themselves, granting you the chance to swoop in and make some extra cash. Upon completing the mission Back Alley Brawl, you'll unlock the ability to receive calls from a cellphone. Soon after, you'll get a call from a mysterious character, only known to the player as Mr. Black. A payphone icon will pop up on the map, and you'll be able to complete a series of hitman contracts, which will give you a bit more money to work with.
Not all missions on your map are required to advance the plot. For example, the entire Avery Carrington mission strand is optional. Tackling these side missions may be helpful, especially if you're running low on funds! As you progress through the game, more side content will unlock, such as the Biker Gang and Love Fist mission strands! Keep an eye out for their respective icons to pop up on your map!
Activities & Pastimes
Just like Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City offers a slew of diversions for those looking for something to do outside of the main story. Some side activities are carried over from GTA III, while a host of others are introduced. Deliver pizzas, partake in an RC Bandit race, or try your hand at saving a few lives in the Paramedic missions.
Store Robberies
Playing through Vice City for the first time, I always wondered why you could enter so many stores, though you couldn't interact with the shopkeeper or purchase anything. It seemed as if the developers had other plans for them, but ran out of time before the game released. Years later, I found out that you're meant to rob them.
Stepping inside one of the many stores dotted around the map and pointing a gun at the cashier triggers a store robbery. These are useful if you need a few bucks for some extra ammunition. If executed properly, each one will reward you with up to $1,000.
Note: It's vital to park a getaway vehicle nearby before beginning the robbery sequence! You will be stuck with a maximum three-star wanted level when all is said and done, and will need to lose the heat to avoid being arrested or wasted!
Cone Crazy and Other Time Trials
While Grand Theft Auto III was the first game in the series to introduce time trials, Vice City refines and expands on the idea, offering a variety of this missiontype. Ride a motorbike across a series of rooftops, fly a helicopter through various checkpoints, or drive around a dirt track to beat the target time.
Cone Crazy Infinite Money Glitch
If you want the fastest way to make money in GTA Vice City, you can amass a fortune from doing little to no work at all.
The Cone Crazy mission triggers once you slip into the Stallion parked on top of the car park in Ocean Beach. From there, you must drive around and collect a series of checkpoints before the time runs out. After completing the mission once, you can go back and do it over for a chance at beating your current time.
Each time you do this, your reward will double! Do this enough times, and you will have more money than you know what to do with!
Note: The best strategy is to go as slow as possible the first time you complete the course. Then, on subsequent replays of the mission, only barely beat your previous time. This allows you to beat your time and double your money as many times as possible, to maximize your earnings.
Sunshine Autos Races
Races become available at Sunshine Autos once you purchase the property for $50,000. There are six races available to the player, each with its own entry fee and various cash rewards.
'Easy Win' Exploit
Around the corner from the business, you can find a rocket launcher in a pool at the Hooker Inn. You can also get it from Phil's Place, but only if you've completed the mission Boomshine Saigon. You can collect the weapon and initiate the race, but do NOT enter the starting marker.
A well-placed rocket will destroy all of your competition, yet you won't fail the race. You will then have the opportunity to cruise around the track at your own pace, enjoying the sights while listening to the legendary soundtrack.
Property Investment
Introduced after completing the mission Shakedown, you can purchase properties that will generate revenue after completing the respective mission strands. Purchasing 7 assets and completing their missions is a vital key to accessing the end of the game, but it's also quite profitable if you do it right.
Though you'll need to initially sink some money into the business, once it's up and running, you can drive around the city and collect the money from it daily. The most profitable ones are The Malibu Club, Sunshine Autos, The Print Works, and InterGlobal Film Studios.
Invest Wisely
Some businesses are more lucrative than others. They may have a hefty price tag, but you'll be able to turn a profit soon enough. For example, the Malibu Club costs $120,000.
This may seem like an absurd amount of money, but the bank heist rewards you with $50,000, and you can collect a maximum of $10,000 daily upon completing the asset missions. Purchasing the movie studio for $60,000 and completing its missions will generate up to $7,000 daily.
Note that when investing, there are a couple of businesses that aren't worth the time or effort. The Pole Position Club and the Boatyard come to mind, as you have to spend $300 in the club after purchasing it for $30,000 before generating revenue.
The Boatyard costs $10,000 and requires you to complete a monotonous boat challenge before you can collect up to $2,000 daily. If you're looking for some serious coin, these two assets aren't worth your time, unless you're looking to unlock the final mission.
In an open-world game like Vice City, there are plenty of ways to make some serious coin. Sound off in the comments section if you know of other ways to turn a profit in the game!