GTA 5 Heists: The 5 Story Heists from Jewel Store to The Big Score

GTA 5's story is built around five major heists, from the Jewel Store Job to the legendary Big Score. Every heist in the campaign follows the same rhythm: preparation missions, then the score itself. Here is the verified list of story heists and how they work.

The five story heists of GTA 5

Grand Theft Auto V's single-player campaign, following Franklin, Michael and Trevor, contains five main heists. Their names are verified in the GameCityMap GTA V missions database:

1. The Jewel Store Job — Michael's first heist with Franklin, hitting Vangelico jewelers in downtown Los Santos
2. The Merryweather Heist — a seaborne raid on a Merryweather cargo ship, with very different approaches depending on the crew chosen
3. Blitz Play — an armored-truck ambush on the Del Perro Freeway orchestrated by Trevor
4. The Paleto Score — the small-town bank robbery in Paleto Bay (preceded by Paleto Score Setup missions)
5. The Big Score — the finale against the Union Depository, with two very different plans (subtle or aggressive)

How heists work

Every story heist follows the same structure, which the missions database reflects:

• Setup missions ("Casing the Jewel Store", "Paleto Score Setup", "Planning the Big Score") — reconnaissance, crew selection and equipment gathering
• The heist itself — the playable score with the crew you chose
• Crew choices matter — hiring better crew members costs more but increases your cut and changes how the heist plays

Why heists matter for money

Story heists are the biggest paydays in the campaign. The Big Score finale is the largest single payout in the story. Your final cut depends on your crew choices and how cleanly the heist runs. This is also why heists are the foundation of most GTA 5 money-making strategies discussions.

Full mission context

The five heists are the spine of the campaign, surrounded by dozens of story missions for the three protagonists. You can browse the complete verified mission list in our GTA V missions database, with the GTA V hub linking to cheats, the interactive map and collectibles.

FAQ

How many heists are in GTA 5's story?

Five main heists: The Jewel Store Job, The Merryweather Heist, Blitz Play, The Paleto Score and The Big Score.

What is the last heist in GTA 5?

The Big Score — the assault on the Union Depository, with subtle or aggressive approaches.

Do heists have preparation missions?

Yes — every heist includes setup missions such as Casing the Jewel Store, Paleto Score Setup and Planning the Big Score.

Which heist pays the most in GTA 5?

The Big Score is the largest payout of the story, depending on crew and approach choices.

Are these the same as GTA Online heists?

No — GTA Online has its own separate heists and updates. These five are the single-player campaign heists.

Sources

• GameCityMap verified GTA V missions database (names and structure)
• GTA V single-player campaign (2013–2026, publicly documented game structure)