The Cayo Perico Heist remains one of GTA Online's best solo money-making activities, even after several payout reductions. A well-organized team can earn more from the Diamond Casino Heist, particularly since the September 2023 Cayo Perico payout changes.
The tables below list the current Cayo Perico primary and secondary target values, setup cost, cooldowns, bonuses and target odds.
Each run has one Primary Target, which provides most of the gross take, plus optional Secondary Targets scattered around the island and compound. The Secondary Targets vary between runs, and each player can carry only one loot bag.
Cooldowns and Hard Mode
After a solo finale, you must wait three in-game days, or 144 real minutes, before starting Cayo Perico again.1 The cooldown after a finale completed with a crew is one in-game day, or 48 real minutes.2
Once Pavel contacts you after the cooldown, pay the setup fee within 48 real minutes to activate Hard Mode. Hard Mode increases the value of the Primary Target by 10%.
Setup Cost
The Cayo Perico setup fee is GTA$100,000. You pay it from the Kosatka before starting the prep missions. The Kosatka is the heist's planning base, and Cayo Perico can be completed solo or with up to three other players.3
Primary Targets
The Primary Target provides most of the gross take. Secondary Targets increase the total, but the best route depends on where they spawn and how many loot bags your crew can carry.
Repeat runs rotate among Sinsimito Tequila, the Ruby Necklace, Bearer Bonds and the Pink Diamond. The Panther Statue joins the pool only during selected events.
Title Update 1.73 changed Cayo Perico target values and moved repeat-target appearance rates to a weekly schedule.4 The figures below are based on in-game checks. Use the Heist Earnings Calculator to compare your setup.
Cayo Perico Primary Target Values
Primary Targets | Value (Normal) | Value (Hard Mode) |
|---|---|---|
Sinsimito Tequila | GTA$400,000 | GTA$440,000 |
Ruby Necklace | GTA$560,000 | GTA$616,000 |
Bearer Bonds | GTA$616,000 | GTA$677,600 |
Pink Diamond | GTA$910,000 | GTA$1,001,000 |
Panther Statue | GTA$1,900,000 | GTA$2,090,000 |
Current Normal and Hard Mode values after Title Update 1.73; the Panther Statue remains event-driven.
The Panther Statue is not a permanent target. Rockstar enables it for selected events and may guarantee it on the first eligible run during that event.5 Outside those events, it cannot be found during the scope-out phase.
The Madrazo Files are the fixed story target on your first playthrough and do not return in the normal repeat-target pool.
Secondary Targets
Cash, weed, cocaine, artwork and gold can appear at fixed loot locations, but the type and amount available change from run to run. Title Update 1.73 adjusted both Primary and Secondary Target values.4 The per-stack ranges below reflect in-game checks.
Cayo Perico Secondary Loot Values
Secondary Targets | Loot Value |
|---|---|
Cash | GTA$70,875–GTA$74,925 |
Artwork | GTA$141,750–GTA$162,000 |
Weed | GTA$117,450–GTA$121,500 |
Cocaine | GTA$178,200–GTA$182,250 |
Gold | GTA$295,500–GTA$300,000 |
Current per-stack value ranges after Title Update 1.73; gold in the compound normally requires at least two players.
Gold inside the compound normally requires two players because its storage rooms use a dual-keycard lock. Solo players should plan around accessible cash, weed, cocaine, artwork and the money in El Rubio's office safe.
Cash, weed and cocaine can be found outside the compound, with the airstrip and docks offering several possible loot locations. Artwork can appear inside El Rubio's office, directly along the route to the Primary Target.
Loot Bag Capacity
Every Secondary Target fills a fixed share of one player's loot bag. Gold has the highest value per bag, followed by cocaine, weed, artwork and cash, but the best choice depends on what you can reach during the finale.
The table shows how much of one loot bag a full stack occupies. Decimal stack counts are approximate because you can stop collecting before a stack is empty.
Cayo Perico Loot Bag Capacity
Secondary Targets | Weight (Per Stack) | Max Number To Fill The Loot Bag |
|---|---|---|
Cash | 25% | 4 |
Artwork | 50% | 2 |
Weed | 37.5% | 2.7 |
Cocaine | 50% | 2 |
Gold | 66.7% | 1.5 |
Approximate share of one player's loot bag occupied by each secondary-loot stack.
El Rubio's Safe
El Rubio's wall safe is inside his office, to the right of the desk. Its current observed cash range is GTA$18,000 to GTA$99,000, and taking it does not use any loot-bag space.
Bonus Payouts
One-Time Awards
Cayo Perico has eight one-time payout awards worth a combined GTA$1.4 million.6
Cayo Perico One-Time Awards
Award | Unlock Criteria | Reward |
|---|---|---|
The Cayo Perico Heist | Complete the Cayo Perico Heist for the first time | GTA$200,000 |
Going Alone | Complete the Cayo Perico Heist with one player | GTA$100,000 |
Teamwork | Complete the Cayo Perico Heist with four players | GTA$100,000 |
Cat Burglar | Complete the Cayo Perico Heist without alerting the guards | GTA$200,000 |
Elitist | Complete the Elite Challenge | GTA$200,000 |
Blow Hard | Complete the Cayo Perico Heist on Hard Mode without losing a life | GTA$200,000 |
Travel Plans | Approach the island using all the available vehicle options | GTA$250,000 |
Professional Thief | Steal all variations of the Primary Target | GTA$150,000 |
One-time award objectives and their separate bonus payouts.
Elite Challenge
The Elite Challenge pays GTA$50,000 on Normal or GTA$100,000 on Hard Mode. To earn it:
- Complete the finale in less than 15 minutes.
- Fill every player's loot bag.
- Do not fail a fingerprint hack.
The Elite Challenge can be earned again on later finales. Hard Mode is not required, but it doubles the Elite payout from GTA$50,000 to GTA$100,000.
Using Quick Restart forfeits the Elite bonus for that attempt. Do not confuse Elite with the separate Blow Hard award: completing Hard Mode without losing a life is that award's requirement, not a fourth item in the Elite checklist.
Weekly Primary Target Odds
Title Update 1.73 moved repeat-target appearance rates to the same weekly schedule as GTA Online's other weekly payout changes.4 The target odds used in this guide are:
- First scope-out after the weekly reset: Ruby Necklace 40%, Bearer Bonds 40%, Pink Diamond 20%, Tequila 0%.
- Additional scope-outs before the next reset: Tequila 80%, Ruby Necklace 10%, Bearer Bonds 8%, Pink Diamond 2%.
The Panther Statue only appears during selected events, so it is not included in the normal target odds.
Cayo Perico Primary Target Chances
Primary Target | Additional scope-outs before next reset | First scope-out after weekly reset |
|---|---|---|
Sinsimito Tequila | 80% | 0% |
Ruby Necklace | 10% | 40% |
Bearer Bonds | 8% | 40% |
Pink Diamond | 2% | 20% |
Current target probabilities for the first scope-out after the weekly reset and additional scope-outs before the next reset.
On repeat runs, a lower-value Primary Target can increase the value of Secondary Targets. The increases below apply to each permanent target in this guide's payout model.
Cayo Perico Repeat Secondary Bonuses
Primary Target | Increase (%) |
|---|---|
Sinsimito Tequila | 20% |
Ruby Necklace | 10% |
Bearer Bonds | 5% |
Pink Diamond | 0% |
Secondary-loot value increase associated with the scoped primary target on repeat runs.
Current Solo Payout Example
A full loot bag is not the same as the money you keep. For this example, you are playing solo on Hard Mode with Sinsimito Tequila, four accessible cash stacks and GTA$50,000 from the office safe. Each cash stack starts at GTA$72,500, within the current range, and Tequila's 20% secondary-loot bonus raises it to GTA$87,000. Four cash stacks fill one bag. This is an illustrative run, not a guaranteed set of spawns.
- Primary Target: GTA$440,000 for Tequila on Hard.
- Secondary loot: 4 x GTA$87,000 = GTA$348,000.
- Office safe: GTA$50,000, which takes no bag space.
- Gross take: GTA$440,000 + GTA$348,000 + GTA$50,000 = GTA$838,000.
- Fencing fee: 10% of the gross take, or GTA$83,800.
- Pavel's cut: 2% of the same gross take, or GTA$16,760.
- Take after both fees: GTA$838,000 - GTA$83,800 - GTA$16,760 = GTA$737,440.
- Elite Challenge: add GTA$100,000 if you meet the Hard Mode requirements, bringing the payout to GTA$837,440.
- Run profit: subtract the GTA$100,000 setup fee already paid, leaving GTA$737,440.
The two fees are calculated from the gross take, not one after the other. The Elite bonus is separate. Without Elite, the same run leaves GTA$637,440 after the setup fee. These figures assume no loot loss and exclude property purchases and optional equipment such as suppressors.
Use the secondary-target locations guide to find reachable loot and the solo Hard Mode walkthrough to plan the finale. The historical maximum-payout tables below are kept separately so their older figures are not mistaken for this current example.
Current Two-Player Payout Example
A second player gives you another loot bag, but the take after fees is still shared between you. Keep the same Hard Mode Tequila target and cash value as the solo example, and suppose you find eight accessible cash stacks: four for each player. Add GTA$50,000 from the office safe, which still uses no bag space. Agree an 85% host / 15% teammate split before launching the finale.
- Primary Target: GTA$440,000.
- Secondary loot: 8 x GTA$87,000 = GTA$696,000, filling both bags.
- Office safe: GTA$50,000.
- Gross crew take: GTA$440,000 + GTA$696,000 + GTA$50,000 = GTA$1,186,000.
- Fencing fee: 10% of gross, or GTA$118,600.
- Pavel's cut: 2% of gross, or GTA$23,720.
- Amount shared between the players: GTA$1,186,000 - GTA$118,600 - GTA$23,720 = GTA$1,043,680.
- Agreed cuts: GTA$887,128 for the host and GTA$156,552 for the teammate.
- Hard Mode Elite bonus: GTA$100,000 per player, paid separately from those cuts. The host receives GTA$987,128 and the teammate receives GTA$256,552.
- Profit after setup: only the host paid the GTA$100,000 setup fee. That leaves GTA$887,128 for the host and GTA$256,552 for the teammate, or GTA$1,143,680 between them.
Without Elite, the host keeps GTA$787,128 after setup and the teammate keeps GTA$156,552. As with the solo example, the eight cash stacks are an illustrative set of spawns, not a guaranteed route; there is no temporary event multiplier or loot loss, and property purchases and optional equipment are excluded. A different agreed split changes each player's share, not the fees or the separate Elite bonus.
Older Payout Examples
The five tables below use the payout model from before Title Update 1.73. Their GTA$ amounts are retained for historical comparison and should not be used to plan a current run.
For a current estimate, use GTA BOOM's Heist Earnings Calculator to choose the target, difficulty, crew size, cuts and Secondary Targets.
Sinsimito Tequila
Older Tequila Payout Examples
— | Solo | 2 Players | 3 Players | 4 Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Host Cut (%) | 100 | 85 | 70 | 55 |
Host Max Take | GTA$1,124,640 | GTA$1,490,016 | GTA$1,596,672 | GTA$1,544,928 |
Player 2 Max Take | — | GTA$362,944 | GTA$442,144 | GTA$521,344 |
Player 3 Max Take | — | — | GTA$442,144 | GTA$521,344 |
Player 4 Max Take | — | — | — | GTA$521,344 |
Historical crew-size and host-cut examples for Tequila under the pre-Title Update 1.73 payout model.
Ruby Necklace
Older Ruby Necklace Payout Examples
— | Solo | 2 Players | 3 Players | 4 Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Host Cut (%) | 100 | 85 | 70 | 55 |
Host Max Take | GTA$1,156,760 | GTA$1,472,812 | GTA$1,551,704 | GTA$1,485,396 |
Player 2 Max Take | — | GTA$359,908 | GTA$432,508 | GTA$505,108 |
Player 3 Max Take | — | — | GTA$432,508 | GTA$505,108 |
Player 4 Max Take | — | — | — | GTA$505,108 |
Historical crew-size and host-cut examples for the Ruby Necklace under the pre-Title Update 1.73 payout model.
Bearer Bonds
Older Bearer Bonds Payout Examples
— | Solo | 2 Players | 3 Players | 4 Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Host Cut (%) | 100 | 85 | 70 | 55 |
Host Max Take | GTA$1,206,480 | GTA$1,493,000 | GTA$1,552,936 | GTA$1,474,264 |
Player 2 Max Take | — | GTA$363,472 | GTA$432,772 | GTA$502,072 |
Player 3 Max Take | — | — | GTA$432,772 | GTA$502,072 |
Player 4 Max Take | — | — | — | GTA$502,072 |
Historical crew-size and host-cut examples for Bearer Bonds under the pre-Title Update 1.73 payout model.
Pink Diamond
Older Pink Diamond Payout Examples
— | Solo | 2 Players | 3 Players | 4 Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Host Cut (%) | 100 | 85 | 70 | 55 |
Host Max Take | GTA$1,701,920 | GTA$1,819,692 | GTA$1,865,864 | GTA$1,708,036 |
Player 2 Max Take | — | GTA$438,828 | GTA$499,828 | GTA$565,828 |
Player 3 Max Take | — | — | GTA$499,828 | GTA$565,828 |
Player 4 Max Take | — | — | — | GTA$565,828 |
Historical crew-size and host-cut examples for the Pink Diamond under the pre-Title Update 1.73 payout model.
Panther Statue
Older Panther Statue Payout Examples
— | Solo | 2 Players | 3 Players | 4 Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Host Cut (%) | 100 | 85 | 70 | 55 |
Host Max Take | GTA$2,282,720 | GTA$2,385,372 | GTA$2,272,424 | GTA$2,027,476 |
Player 2 Max Take | — | GTA$520,948 | GTA$586,948 | GTA$652,948 |
Player 3 Max Take | — | — | GTA$586,948 | GTA$652,948 |
Player 4 Max Take | — | — | — | GTA$652,948 |
Historical crew-size and host-cut examples for the Panther Statue under the pre-Title Update 1.73 payout model.
Choosing a Team Size
Cayo Perico can be completed solo, but you normally need at least two players to collect gold inside the compound. A larger crew can carry more loot, but each player also takes a cut.
There is no single best team size. It depends on the Primary Target, the available Secondary Targets and the agreed cuts. Use the Heist Earnings Calculator to compare solo and crew runs.