Red Dead Online: 5 Best Tips for Making Money

Making money in Red Dead Online certainly doesn’t come without its cowpoke-stabbing shenanigans, as anyone would come to expect from a Rockstar title. Similar to its Grand Theft Auto Online counterpart, earning a living out on the Western Frontier is often strewn with shambolic schemes and morally-bankrupt veterans who’d much rather see newcomers tied to a railway track than see them live long enough to thrive. But that’s just how it is, and you can either buckle up and roll with the tide, or let it whisk you away and leave you feeling starved of the opportunities it has to offer. Either way, one thing’s for sure: Red Dead Online is sure to give you a run for your money.

So, how exactly are you supposed to get ahead of the Red Dead die-hards, more so now in 2023 when the servers are chock-full of players and frequent updates? Well, money, to put it short. Getting it can be a bit tricky, but if you can onboard these five crucial tips, then you’ll be raking it in by the boatload before that overpowered cowboy makes it their own personal mission to eradicate you from the saloon. Fact is, money makes the world go round, and if you’ve got it, then you’re in with a chance of seeing it complete a few rotations. Probably.

5. Treasure Hunts

Getting your hands on a treasure map in Red Dead Online is a sure-fire way to get your hands on a shedload of dough and other valuable perks. And while the treasure itself doesn’t always guarantee a cash payout, it does often come with other rewards, all of which amount to a hefty sum when exchanged. What’s good about this is that you can actually undertake the available treasure hunts while also completing other activities around the map, so it’s definitely worth your time.

Fortunately, treasure maps aren’t all that hard to come by. Matter of fact, they’re given out to you for every five levels you ascend, which means you can check back in with your camp lockbox or local post office for every new milestone you surpass. You can also loot various maps from fallen enemies in gang hideouts, which often appear at random. If you can bag a couple of treasure spots each time you clock in, then you’ll have a significant amount of coin to tide you over the next time you set out on a mission.

4. Story Missions

While on the subject of missions, the campaign in Red Dead Online is in receipt of a great deal of high-paying quests. And the best part is, each of these quests are available to run through several times via the game’s shortcut menu. So long as you don’t mind putting the next chapter on hold, you can always replay certain missions to squeeze the payout until you’re content with the money and XP in your back pocket.

To put it straight, some of the early missions in Red Dead Online can offer you somewhere in excess of $250 — and that’s for completing the primary objectives. If you can knuckle down on the secondary goals also, then you’ll find yourself bagging twice the loot and XP. It seems a little obvious and almost too good to be true, sure, but it’s definitely one of the easiest ways to make bank as early on as possible.

3. Trading

If you’re going to master the art of any type of trade, then you might as well aim high and shoot for the stars. In other words, the big game hunts that dish out rare hides and other materials for you to trade back at your camp. This is without doubt one of the best side gigs you can take on in Red Dead Online, and not to mention one of the most enjoyable, also. What’s more, it’ll give you the chance to sharpen your sharpshooting skills and collect other items of worth.

Of course, taking on any Specialist Role in Red Dead Online is sure to give you some form of payout. However, if you’re looking to secure the big bucks, then aim to ravel down the Trader route with Cripps. If you’re willing to go one step further, then you can also invest in a Hunting Wagon to maximise your income and materials. The more you onboard, the higher your profit. Simple.

2. Hunting

Outside of the general scavenging missions that you can do for Cripps, there’s also hunting as a side activity, which can be exploited every waking hour of every day. As the economy grows and branches out to new money-making schemes, the world of hunting never really falters, as does the value of the pelts and skins that you obtain from a multitude of animals. And the best part is, you can get to shooting wild alligators in a pond as early as the prologue, so there’s nothing really holding you back from making the most of what hunting has to offer.

Once you’ve obtained a bolt-action rifle, you’ll want to head out towards the west of Kamassa River, which sits on the outskirts of Rhodes. Not only is this one of the most scenic locations on the map, but also one of the best hunting grounds for just about every breed of animal in all of Red Dead Online. If you can set up a good spot along the stream and bag yourself a wide selection of hides and meats, you’ll find that money can tends to roll a lot quicker than your average pastime.

1. Races & Showdowns

If you’d much rather avoid idling by a camp catching carp and rabbit skins, then there’s always the option of trying your luck in one of Red Dead Online’s competitive modes. Specifically, the Horse Race and Showdown playlists that can be accessed via the in-game sub menu. Either of these episodes offer a quality amount of money and XP, regardless of the position you come in at the end of each round. So, if you’re okay with the idea of going up against a bunch of strangers for the lion’s share of the score, then aim to shovel through each of the aforementioned playlists at least once per session.

Of course, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword, playing the competitive modes in the early phases of the game. As you’ll be relatively new to the world, and not to mention short of spare change for quality horses and weapons, you will need to accrue as much as you can before being able to earn the big rewards. If you can stick with it long enough, though, then you’ll eventually bag yourself a proper arsenal and stables. Reach that milestone, and you’ll end up wiping the floor with your enemies every time without fail.

So, what’s your take? Do you have any money tips for newcomers to the Red Dead Online domain? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.