Gathering cash is obviously an important part of life in the world of Red Dead Redemption 2. How else can you buy guns, ammo, and horses? Players can earn (or steal) money in a wide variety of ways, from robbing trains to playing cards and everything in between.
Some of these activities are seriously fun! But others are a grind. It's easy to be frustrated that the three hours you spent playing Poker in Flatneck Station only earned you $12 (and possibly an extra $5 if you completed that Gambler achievement). Just because a Red Dead Redemption 2 mini-game provides cash doesn't mean that it's worth the effort. Some moneymakers, however, are surprisingly easy.
10 Be A Gold Digger (Literally)
There's no shame in being a Red Dead Redemption 2 gold digger. Seriously! Players who find a Gold Nugget can sell it for $25 and Gold Bars are worth a whopping $500. The best part is that these 'rare' items are actually all over the map, they're rarely defended, and they're easy to find for players who know where to look. Actually, they'll appear often even for players who don't know where to look.
Gold Nuggets can be found in random chests, lockboxes, and even nightstands throughout all regions of the game map. Some players have found them on the floor of a cabin. Gold Bars, however, are a little rarer and are usually the reward for completing a Treasure Map. Players will always be delighted to dig up a chest full of Gold Bars. Obviously.
9 Waste: Complete Bounties
Sure, a few high-profile bounties will yield a pocket full of cash. But most won't. Players who complete a bounty hunting mission can expect to bring home between $15 and $100, depending on the difficulty and if the target is brought back alive. And none of those criminals will come quietly.
Adding up the time it takes to collect the bounty, go to the target's last location, find the target, eliminate their many allies, kill or hogtie them, stow them behind the saddle, take down their extra allies that give chase, make it to the sheriff's station, drop the target's body, and collect the cash, it's easy to see that only high-dollar bounties are worth doing. And players can get killed pretty easily.
8 Raid Hideouts
A really fun way to pass the time in this game is to assault an enemy gang's hideout. Though there are a lot of enemies to take down, their bodies will yield some good loot items, and there's usually a sizeable money stash. Take cover with a powerful rifle or repeater and you'll be fine.
One of the best hideouts to attack is the O'Driscoll headquarters at Hanging Dog Ranch. There are at least 15 enemies here, and make sure to loot them, because each O'Driscoll will have at least $2 and a valuable item. Players can also find a bunch of supplies plus a large stash of bills in the upstairs bedroom. Other gang hideouts are located at Butcher Creek, Shady Belle, and Fort Mercer.
7 Waste: Fence Horses
Given how much money it costs to buy a new horse in the game, most people think that selling horses should generate just as much income. But that would be too easy. Stolen or tamed wild horses can be sold at a Stable or at the Fence that becomes available after Chapter 3. However, these places will only give a fraction of the horse's sale value, and players need to bond the horse to at least Level 2 for the dollar amount to be (somewhat) worth the effort.
Some of the rare wild horses are worth a decent Fence price. For players willing to trek into the high mountains of Ambarino, they can tame and sell a bonded White Arabian for $96. But the far majority of game horses will yield $15 or less. This probably isn't the most efficient method of getting cash.
6 Hunt and Fish
Don't feel bad about 'robbing' Mother Nature of her precious goods. Someone has to bring the bacon back to camp (literally, if they just hunted a boar). Sure, non-pristine animal pelts, meat, feathers, claws, and other materials aren't worth much by themselves, but it's easy to accumulate a heap of these items very quickly. Just take a walk in the Grizzlies with a Springfield Rifle and a Varmint Rifle and shoot/skin everything in sight.
Fishing is another way to easily earn money. By using a lure instead of bait, players never have to pay to replenish their hunting materials (unlike ammo), so the only requirement is a fishing pole and a little time. Find a good spot and it's possible to catch at least one $2 fish per minute. Do the math and that's a great deal!
5 Waste: Rob Trains
Though it's super fun for players to access their inner bandit and rob a train, they won't make much money. In fact, this activity can yield negative income. Why? Because robbing a train, plus murdering all of its hostile guards, will probably cause a high bounty. And it's a lot more likely to get killed in the process once the lawmen are dispatched.
So even if it's possible to get away with about $75 to $100 in loot, it's even more likely to earn a $200 or higher bounty that will have to be paid off immediately. Consider a more domestic job instead.
4 Companion Missions
While most story missions take a lot of time and don't give much loot, companion missions are special side-hustles that can be completed with one or more members at camp. These activities appear randomly but often. Make sure to visit the Van Der Linde gang's current hideout frequently, because most members are itching to join Arthur in making some mischief.
Players can enjoy robbing houses, coaches, homesteads, and even banks with their fellow bandits. Hunting and fishing companion activities are also available. In addition to being super fun, these side missions will provide a substantial pile of cash.
3 Waste: Gamble
Ah, the only legal form of robbery: Poker. This is a very popular mini-game in Red Dead Redemption 2 and many cowboys (or cowgirls) spend hours at the saloon tables. But don't rely on playing cards as a decent source of income. All of the Poker and Blackjack games throughout the map have a low buy-in amount, which also means that players won't walk away with much even if they win.
For example, the Blackwater and Saint Denis Poker tables have a $5 buy-in. So if a player busts all other opponents, which takes a long time, the most money they'll walk away with is $25 to $45. In this case, time isn't money. Maybe save the gambling for Las Vegas.
2 Fence Coaches
After players complete "The Spines of America" story mission, they can sell any stolen wagons or coaches to Seamus at Emerald Ranch. Stake out an area in the Heartlands near this ranch, wear a bandana, knock the unsuspecting drivers off their vehicle, and drive it back to the Fence. Avoid becoming Wanted by doing this with no nearby witnesses.
Though risky, stealing coaches is pretty lucrative. Oil tankers and four-horse stagecoaches will sell for a whopping $50 each. Get in the rhythm of quickly stealing vehicles then driving them back to Seamus, and after an hour or so, players will be surprised by how much money they've earned. Or stolen.
1 Waste: Rob Shops
Store robbery is another way to get cash that's actually more trouble than it's worth. Most cash registers don't hold a lot of money, and even if players find and rob a secret side business, they'll steal a maximum of about $100 in goods and currency. Sounds tempting? Keep in mind that this will probably earn a high bounty. And some heat from the town's lawmen.
While getting a massive bounty is pretty much guaranteed when robbing trains, store robberies can sometimes be done without getting caught. Just wear a mask and try not to shoot anyone.