How to make money fast in Red Dead Redemption 2

Making money fast in Red Dead Redemption 2 comes down to stacking multiple income streams rather than relying on just one method. Here are the best ways to build up your cash quickly:

Bounty Hunting

• Pick up wanted posters from sheriff's offices after completing "Good, Honest, Snake Oil."
• Always bring targets in alive — a live bounty pays significantly more than a dead one, with some bounties worth up to $600 for a living capture.
• Loot gang member reinforcements on the way back to maximize your haul.
• Blackwater and Manzanita Post are noted as the most profitable bounty hunting locations.

Robbery

• Robbing trains, stagecoaches, and establishments during story missions can net you hundreds to thousands of dollars at a time.
• Gang hideout ambushes are also worth it — loot every fallen enemy and search the area for chests and valuables to sell at a fence.

Hunting

• Hunt legendary animals and sell pelts to a trapper or butcher for high returns.
• Focus on big game like wolves, moose, bears, and cougars for the best payout.
• Make clean kills to preserve pelt quality and maximize sale value.

Looting and Selling

• Loot every enemy body after a fight — NPCs in wealthier areas like Saint Denis carry more valuable items.
• Sell illegally obtained goods (stolen jewelry, gold bars, etc.) to a fence rather than regular stores.

Completing Missions and Challenges

• Story and stranger missions frequently reward solid cash payouts, especially heist-related ones.
• Work through the nine sets of single-player challenges, as completing them rewards cash alongside XP and special items.

Horse Trading (High Honor)

• If your honor reaches level 7, you get a 50% discount at stables. Buy an expensive horse (Arabian, Missouri Fox Trotter, or Turkoman), bond with it to level 4, then sell it for up to a 90% profit margin.

A Few Things to Avoid

• Keep your bounty low — getting arrested drains your cash fast.
• Don't go overboard gambling until you're comfortable with the games, as it's easy to lose large sums quickly.

Combining bounty hunting, regular hunting runs, and looting after robberies is the most consistent way to stay flush with cash throughout the story.