How to make money fast in Red Dead Redemption 2 story mode

In Red Dead Redemption 2, even making money tells a story: an abandoned cabin hides a letter and a lockbox, a robbery leaves witnesses who run to fetch the sheriff, a pelt ruined by a sloppy shot sells for less. Nothing comes free in a world this consistent, right down to its economy, and money goes fast in story mode: camp upgrades, guns, horses, outfits. The good news is that a handful of methods pay far more than the rest, and most of them are open from Chapter 2.

The golden rule: almost everything that pays big (gold bars, jewelry, watches) is sold to a fence. So that's the first thing to unlock.

Step 1: unlock a fence

Fences buy valuables and gold bars. The first one opens at Emerald Ranch after the mission The Spines of America (Chapter 2, with Hosea). It also buys stolen wagons and stagecoaches. Other fences are in Rhodes, Saint Denis and Van Horn.

Without a fence, your gold just sits in your satchel. Make this mission a priority.

The best money sources, ranked

Every Gold Bar is worth $500 at any fence.

Treasure maps: the biggest jackpot

Four treasure hunts end with a nice stack of gold. For step-by-step solutions, see our treasure map solutions guide.

• Landmarks of Riches (6 bars). The most lucrative. The first map is hidden in the obelisk near Owanjila lake, in West Elizabeth. At the end of its four maps, the treasure sits under a rock at the foot of the giant sundial on top of Mount Shann. Save before you climb: falling is easy.
• Poisonous Trail (4 bars). The first map is in a lockbox under a bed in Cairn Lodge, by Cairn Lake (northwest Ambarino, in the snow). The final treasure is hidden in the cave behind the Elysian Pool waterfall. Bring your lantern: the tunnels are dark.
• Jack Hall Gang (2 bars). Early in Chapter 2, a treasure hunter named Maximo, near Flatneck Station, sells you the map for $10 ($5 if you turn him down once). The treasure ends on the small island in the middle of the O'Creagh's Run lake.
• High Stakes (3 bars). The first map is carried by a treasure hunter you meet in a random encounter: lasso him so he drops it. If you miss him, the map ends up for sale at the fence. The trail runs through Cumberland Falls and Barrow Lagoon before ending in the cliffs near Bacchus Station.

Standalone gold bars

No map needed for these, just curiosity. That's the generosity of RDR2's world: leaving the road almost always pays off.

• Limpany: in the burned-down town just south of Horseshoe Overlook, open the lockbox hidden in the desk of the sheriff's building. It's one of the first gold bars in the game.
• The train wreck near Cotorra Springs: an upright car at the bottom of a ravine holds 2 gold bars. You'll need to work your way down the cliff and jump two gaps, carefully.
• The Strange Statues: a cave northeast of Bacchus Station hides a statue puzzle that pays 3 gold bars.
• A Strange Kindness: the last mission of Chapter 2 gives you a Gold Ingot, worth $300.

Hunting: perfect pelts and legendary animals

Hunting pays less per run, but it's unlimited and helps the camp too:

• Go for three-star animals. Study them with binoculars: only pristine animals give a perfect pelt, the best-paying kind.
• Use the right weapon, shown in the compendium after studying: Varmint Rifle for small game, bow or repeater for medium game, rifle for big game, sniper rifle for the largest animals. One well-placed shot, or the quality drops.
• Hunt the Legendary Buck near Strawberry: bring its antler to a fence to craft the Buck Antler Trinket, which improves the quality of what you skin.
• Legendary animals unlock after the mission Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego. Their pelts go to the Trapper, who turns them into unique outfits. Every location is in our legendary animals guide.

Looting and robberies: profitable, but not free

• Loot every body after a gunfight: rings, watches and belt buckles add up fast. Bandit camps out in the wild also hide loot.
• Stagecoaches often have a lockbox on the back, and the wagon itself sells at the Emerald Ranch fence, as long as there are no witnesses or lawmen on your tail.
• Shady businesses: some shopkeepers run an illegal side business you can rob, like the back room of the Valentine doctor's office or the basement of the Rhodes gunsmith.
• Homes: Javier may invite you to rob a homestead, and other isolated houses can be robbed solo.
• Trains can be robbed outside missions by holding up the passengers, but guards ride along and the bounty comes quickly.

Careful: stealing and killing lower your honor, and any witness can land you a bounty. Wear a bandana and pick quiet spots. All the basics for staying out of trouble are in our beginner tips.

Poker: for fun, not for profit

You can play poker in several towns and sometimes at camp. The stakes stay modest: it's a nice pastime, not a strategy to fill your wallet. Don't gamble the money you need for camp.

Money and camp: what to know

The camp donation box funds ledger purchases: put the money you need in it before buying an upgrade. What you deposit doesn't come back to your pocket, so donate with a goal:

1. Both lodging upgrades (Dutch's, then Arthur's) for fast travel.
2. The Leather Working Tools, so Pearson can craft satchels.

Upgrading Dutch's tent encourages the rest of the gang to donate more: it's the smartest early investment. After that, keep your gold for your own purchases, or give it to the camp if you want to unlock everything.

As for cheats, one of them adds money, but activating any cheat disables saving for the session. Not a real solution.

Go further

• Find all our Red Dead Redemption 2 guides in one place
• Treasure map solutions to grab every gold bar
• Legendary animal locations and their rewards
• Our RDR2 beginner tips: camp, horse, honor and bounties
• The best horses in RDR2 to know where to spend your earnings
• Red Dead Online beginner guide if you're moving to multiplayer
• RDR2's incredible details

FAQ

How much is a gold bar worth in RDR2?

A Gold Bar sells for $500 at any fence. The Gold Ingot from A Strange Kindness, the final mission of Chapter 2, is worth $300.

Which treasure map pays the most?

Landmarks of Riches, with 6 gold bars, or $3,000. Next come Poisonous Trail (4 bars), High Stakes (3) and Jack Hall Gang (2).

Where do you sell stolen items and gold bars?

At a fence. The first one opens at Emerald Ranch after The Spines of America (Chapter 2). Others are in Rhodes, Saint Denis and Van Horn.