Money

"Money talks, Money say 'Jump', cat say 'How high?"

- Playboy X

Money is an integral element in the Grand Theft Auto series, with its importance varying game by game. It is a statistic primarily represented by a counter on the player's HUD as the amount of money in hand. Missions are often emphasized as a reliable source of income, but the player may resort to other means of obtaining money in the game.

History
In early GTA games, money is emphasized as the key to unlocking new areas in the game, but it may also be used in various other activities. The formula was dramatically modified after Grand Theft Auto III, when money was only important for specific missions, as the completion of missions unlocked new areas instead; the former was removed entirely after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Since GTA III, the primary use of money is the purchase of items and services, such as health, armor, clothing, properties (like safehouses and business) and weapons. Money is also needed for respraying and/or repairing vehicles at a Pay 'n' Spray.

As the games primarily take place in the United States of America, the currency unit of money is the United States dollar. The London add-on packs for GTA (Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 and Grand Theft Auto: London 1961) are exceptions; as the games are set in the United Kingdom, the dollar is replaced by the Pound sterling.

It should be noted that money throughout the GTA series appears only in stacks of paper bills as there are no single bank notes seen in the games (except when throwing $1 bills to strippers in GTA V). In addition, coins are almost never seen in the GTA series; they can be seen when paying at the toll bridges in GTA Chinatown Wars (and can be heard being used when paying at the toll bridges in GTA IV and its episodes), but there are currently no purchases that cost less than $1, nor any that aren't rounded to the nearest dollar.

2D Universe
For progression into new cities or areas and storyline in Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto 2, money must be earned to the point a certain amount is fulfilled, often in millions.

Money in the two games is relatively easy to obtain. Acts of crimes, murder and traffic violations often award players with scores, giving the player small quantities of cash. Missions, however, grant players larger amounts of money, in addition to score multipliers that increases the aforementioned monetary award from street crimes by one fold for each mission. This formula, assuming the player continues to successfully complete missions, will result in the player obtaining progressively larger amounts of money until a certain amount is reached and the player may progress to the next city or area.

The use of money for other purposes was explored in GTA 2. With the ability to save games, the player must have a certain amount of money in hand to enter save points (comically represented by a "Jesus Saves" evangelical place of worship which demands donations in order for the player to "save" his "soul"). The game also offers several drive-in shops where the player may remove their wanted level, upgrade their vehicle with equipment, or install bombs, all at a cost. This mechanic also appears in GTA, but is limited to only re-spraying vehicles.

In both games, certain vehicles can be taken to cranes and turned into money. In GTA 2 vehicles will also hand out weapons or abilities when crushed.

Grand Theft Auto III


In Grand Theft Auto III, the money system was completely refashioned. While certain street crimes still award players with small amounts of money, the score multiplier is removed, and pedestrians, except emergency personnel, drop cash onto the street upon death. Missions still provide substantial amounts of money, but sub-missions, which debuted in GTA III, serve as an additional source of income, awarding the player with increasingly more money as the sub-missions progress. Uniquely, in GTA III the player has the capacity to earn money by crashing cars.

Money in GTA III is assigned a secondary role in game progression for specific missions only, when the player is required to pay 8-Ball large sums of money to construct a bomb in "Bomb Da Base Act II", and when the player must pay a large ransom to secure Maria Latore's freedom, who is kidnapped by Catalina and the Colombian Cartel, in "The Exchange". Outside missions, money remains important in the purchase of weapons, respraying of vehicles and the installation of car bombs. Sessions with prostitutes, another addition in the game, also incur a cost to the player, depending on how long the player requires her services. Also, if a car is destroyed, a large amount of money is given to the player.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, instant monetary awards for street crimes are largely eliminated (save the destruction of helicopters, which was later removed in GTA San Andreas), leaving missions, sub-missions, the dropped pedestrian cash, and robbing stores (in addition to smashing parking meters in Downtown) as the only visible sources of income. The average amount of money awarded to the player and cost of items were also divided by 10 (e.g. the use of Pay 'n' Spray costs $100 in GTA Vice City, compared to $1,000 in GTA III). The game also reduces the number of missions where large sums of money were needed; only one such mission remains, "Keep Your Friends Close".

Maintaining the relevance of money in GTA, the player is offered the possibility of purchasing properties and businesses at varying costs. Upon completion of missions or sub-missions for one of said businesses, the business will begin amassing a certain amount of money each day, which the player may pick up at their own leisure. As another small bonus, the player can earn $50 "good citizen" bonus by attacking (without firearms) criminals being chased by police, they can also earn $5 for each passenger picked up at bus stops when driving a coach.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
While the money system is largely unchanged from the last installment, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas expanded on the number of options to earn money and spend it, by introducing a variety of new sub-missions, establishments where players may purchase food or clothes, vehicle customisation and gambling. Monetary pickups in gang turf are present, and like GTA Vice City, properties may still be purchased and generate income of their own.

If the player loses too much money, either by spending too much or by losing at gambling, the green numbers representing money on the HUD will be replaced by red numbers and a negative sign. Soon after the player falls into debt, Carl will receive a phone call from an unknown man, reminding Carl that he owes him money. A while after that, Carl will receive another phone call from the same man, who tells Carl that some of his "associates" will be paying Carl a visit to talk about his debts. Shortly after this, Carl will be attacked by armed gangsters. The only ways to erase the debts is to earn enough money to get out of debt or kill the hitmen sent to kill Carl.

Grand Theft Auto Advance
The player gets large sums of cash for missions, like in GTA III. However, the only thing that this money can be used for is buying weapons.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
The money system works just like the previous installments from the 3D Universe. Aside from a mission which requires the player to have enough money to pay for some explosives, the only other things the player can spend it on are weapons, prostitutes, ferries, visits to the Pay 'n' Spray, and bombs for cars.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
The importance of money increases a little; the player can again purchase properties and build the assets from them into whatever type of business they desire. Money can now be gained easily through the new addition of the Empire Building. Another new feature is that instead of collecting the empire's earnings from each property directly, the money is paid directly to the player at 16:00 each day. Another new method for obtaining small amounts of cash is introduced, in the form of a small bonus awarded to the player for saving pedestrians from being attacked by enemy gang members. Popping each of the 99 red balloons also awards a small amount of cash. Also like in GTA Vice City, the player is able to obtain small amounts of cash by smashing parking meters with a vehicle or weapon.

Grand Theft Auto IV
The core of the money system is unchanged in Grand Theft Auto IV. However, profitable sub-missions, which were sources of income since GTA III, are reduced to Brucie Kibbutz's Exotic Exports, The Fixer's Assassinations, and Stevie's Car Thefts (but after completing all 30 of Stevie's car theft missions, the player can bring any vehicle they want to his garage for extra cash, at varying prices depending on the model and condition). The game also allows the player to rob cash registers in certain stores for a small amount of cash or destroying an armoured Securicar van (scattering money on the street for the player to pick up), though the former gives the player a one-star wanted level, and the latter gives the player a two-star wanted level. The taxi sub-missions were reduced now to support Roman's car service with limited missions, granting the player very little income via doing fares. Like weapons, money now lies realistically on the ground with a yellow-green glow to catch the player's eye instead of floating in mid-air. As in GTA IV the importance of money for the purchase of food and clothing is reintroduced. Outings with friends or girlfriends also require substantial amounts of money when going for a drink, eating or bowling. Players are also given the option of simply giving money away to street musicians (for health) and tramps. Also, players have the ability to use taxi services and pay the fare according to distance (and extra if the journey is skipped).

Tollbooth fares were also introduced in GTA IV, now requiring a $5 toll to pass through the East Borough Bridge, Dukes Bay Bridge and the long-stay car park in Francis International Airport. If the player decides to break through the gate without paying, it will attract a one-star wanted level. However, if the player drives up to the tollbooth in an emergency services vehicle, they will get through free of charge.

Money is also the unit of measure of rank in GTA IV's multiplayer. The more money the player has, the higher their rank:

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
In GTA Chinatown Wars, there are two types of money pickups, one being a green dollar sign, the other one being a blue dollar sign. The green dollar sign ranges from $10 to $80, and can be commonly found by killing pedestrians, while the blue dollar sign is very rare (only appearing in three missions, One Shot, One Kill, A Rude Awakening and Clear the Pier). It is worth $200.

The player can use money for Scratch Cards, buy safehouses and cars from the auto merchant. Money can be won after purchasing a Scratch Card.

Grand Theft Auto V
The Money icon is essentially the same as it was in GTA IV, however, the dollar sign comes first in GTA V.

In Grand Theft Auto V, the money system has changed since Grand Theft Auto IV. Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Phillips all have different amounts in their bank accounts at the start of the game.

In this game, all money pickups take the form of stacks of $100 bills wrapped in a Fleeca bank strap, regardless of the actual amount picked up by the player. However, other denominations, such as $20 bills and $5 bills can be found as props, and loose $1 bills can be thrown to the strippers at the Vanilla Unicorn.

Earning money through missions becomes much more difficult, as many do not offer a reward. To compensate for this, there are numerous new ways to earn money in GTA V in addition to missions.

Street crimes such as performing store hold-ups will still reward players with small amounts of money like before. Scuba diving - a new feature in the game - allows players to explore underwater shipwrecks to find hidden treasure which can offer small payouts. Mildly profitable sub-missions are increased to hijacking security vans, picking up hitchhikers, bounty hunting, etc. Heists are featured in this game. 'Mini heists' are used to teach the player about preparation. Players must purchase and secure vehicles, outfits, masks and the getaway vehicle. For the much larger heists in the game, players must hire the right crew, with less skilled members taking a lower cut or higher-skilled members taking a larger cut. There will be a huge payout to split between the crew after the heist is finished. However, not all heists will provide a large payout. While members with less skills generally receive less money at the end of each heist, there are some optional heist members that are higher-skilled but take less of the payout.

Another way to earn cash is through investing in the stock market. Upon completion of certain missions, investments on stock markets such as the Liberty City National Exchange or BAWSAQ can provide significant returns. However, players should exercise caution and invest money wisely, as unwise investments can lead to players losing significant amounts of money. The amount of money a player has does not impact on the storyline; for example, The Paleto Score takes place because Michael and Trevor need to purchase a helicopter for a raid on the Humane Labs and Research, with Michael claiming they are "broke", regardless of the protagonist's savings. With these new and profound ways to generate a healthy profit, players will now have new ways to spend their hard-earned cash. Players can purchase businesses around Los Santos and Blaine County that will add extra revenue sources. Property purchase also provides some perks. For example, if Franklin Clinton purchases the Downtown Cab Co., he will receive all future taxi rides free of charge. Occasionally the player will be asked to defend the bar from enemies or deliver supplies (e.g. alcohol if the player owns a bar). Failure to comply may result in reduced takings for that week, reducing the player's profits. Player customised options from San Andreas also make a return, which include a large variety of tattoos, haircuts and clothing. Players can also purchase vehicles and vehicle modifications like in San Andreas, but for the first time ever this includes aircraft and boats and consists of far more modification options available. Players may also purchase weapons and weapon modifications like scopes or weapon suppressors from Ammu-Nation.

$2,147,483,647 is the maximum amount of money possible for any online or offline character to own. The number 2,147,483,647 is the maximum positive value for a 32-bit signed binary integer in computing. It is therefore the maximum value for variables declared as integers in many programming languages, and the maximum possible score, money, etc. for many video games. However this only caps the amount of money a character can carry physically.

Grand Theft Auto Online


As of the release of GTA Online, money again plays a central role in online multiplayer. Unlike GTA IV, the system for player rank is based on Reputation Points. Money is used primarily for purchasing property, customization items, and weapons. Money in GTA Online uses a system of having two accounts, which is unprecedented in the series. Players carry with them their "held" cash, represented by a dark green money counter. This money serves for most small and/or illegal transactions. In Free Mode, if the player is killed while carrying $5,000 or more, a fraction of their held cash will be dropped for other players to pick up for a short time. The other account is a player's "banked" cash. After earning money from various missions and activities, players may bank their cash by either visiting an ATM or using the Maze Bank website on their phone/computer. Banked cash is used for a majority of transactions in the game, such as car customization, clothing, weapons, and more expensive illegal services. If all of a player's cash is banked, they will still lose a small amount of cash when they are killed in freemode, but not as much as with held cash, and none will be available to be stolen. Prior to the Heists Update no missions in GTA Online required the expenditure of large amounts of money, although the provider of a mission may occasionally suggest specific weapons or vehicles that would be useful. Heists now require setup fees on the part of the Heist Leader.

In regards to game support, Rockstar Games will refer to the in-game currency as 'GTA$' in order to clearly differentiate it from real money.

$9,223,372,036,854,775,807 is the maximum amount of money possible on ATM for any online players to own. The number 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 is the maximum positive value for a 64-bit signed binary integer in computing. It is therefore the maximum value for variables declared as integers in many programming languages, and the maximum possible score, money, etc. for many video games. However this only caps the amount of money a character can carry physically.

Gallery

 * Money counters

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