In Red Dead Redemption, money makes the West go round—whether you’re buying ammo, a new outfit, or a well-deserved rest in a saloon. But with only a blood-stained shirt on your back to start, building wealth can seem daunting. Don’t worry, cowboy—we’ve wrangled the best tips to help you ride from rags to riches, all while keeping your mustache oiled and your honor mostly intact.
Start With Bonnie for More Than Just Story
Before you get any bright ideas about galloping into the wilderness, it’s best to stick with Bonnie MacFarlane’s missions early on. While it’s tempting to ditch the ranch work and start outlawin’, Bonnie’s first few missions set you up for long-term success. In fact, the fourth mission rewards you with one of the most important tools in the game: the lasso.
This isn’t just a bit of rope—it’s your golden ticket to bounty hunting, one of the most lucrative (and entertaining) professions in the West. Learn how to use it early, and you’ll be tying up bad guys like a rodeo legend in no time.
Bounty Hunting: Live Targets, Bigger Profits
While shooting a wanted man in the head might seem efficient, the real cash is in bringing bounties in alive. That means outsmarting and outgunning their henchmen first. Use your Dead Eye system to pick off enemies at range, then close in once the dust settles.
The main target is marked with a skull icon on your mini-map. If he tries to flee, shoot him in the leg—Dead Eye helps with the precision. Once he’s down, hogtie him and deliver him back to town. But be warned: killing or capturing him isn’t the end. His goons often ambush you on the way back. Save some Dead Eye juice to take them out before they take you out.
Hunt for Profit: Where and What to Hunt
If chasing bounties feels like too much work, there’s always hunting. Skinning wildlife is a classic way to make fast cash. The wilder the animal, the richer the reward:
- Wild boars: Found near Thieves’ Landing
- Wolves: South of Armadillo
- Other exotic critters: Lurk throughout the frontier
Buy bait from general stores to lure them out. It may sound reckless to go looking for dangerous animals, but the pelts, tusks, and hearts they drop fetch high prices. Once you hear their howls, it’s not fear you should feel—it’s profit.
First Investment: The Lucky Rabbit’s Foot
When you’ve gathered some cash, your first big purchase should be the Lucky Rabbit’s Foot. For only $25, it gives you:
- More ammo from looted enemies
- 20% more cash from looting corpses
This small charm pays for itself quickly and keeps the cash flowing with every skirmish.
High-Stakes Games: Gambling and Minigames
If you’re feeling lucky—or just want to test your nerve—gambling can be a major moneymaker. Liar’s Dice is especially profitable:
- Earn $60+ per game with smart play
- Later missions unlock high-stakes tables with $200 antes
To succeed, you’ll need to dust off your memory of probability and bluffing. Being unexpectedly honest can actually work in your favor, since NPCs often expect you to lie.
Prefer danger over dice? Try your hand at Five Finger Fillet. As you defeat more opponents, the stakes—and difficulty—rise. With good hand-eye coordination, it’s one of the fastest ways to earn. Just be prepared: failure comes with blood and regret.
Bonus Tip: Play With Your Own Soundtrack
Here’s a little treat—Red Dead Redemption supports custom soundtracks. Just load your music through the in-game XMB, and you can skin wolves to classic Sugababes or whatever suits your outlaw mood.
Final Thoughts
From bounty hunting and hunting wildlife to winning big in saloons, Red Dead Redemption gives you plenty of ways to stack cash. Focus early on lassoing bounties and harvesting rare pelts, make smart upgrades like the Lucky Rabbit’s Foot, and don’t sleep on gambling once you’ve got the knack.
Money won’t buy you honor in the West—but it’ll sure keep your revolver loaded and your horse well-fed. Yeehaw and good luck out there, partner!
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