Surviving on the western frontier in Red Dead Online can be expensive, and money doesn't always come as easy as one would hope. Some weapons cost hundreds of dollars, and other content is locked behind hefty sums of Gold Bars. Unfortunately, some activities in Red Dead Online just don't pay all that much, and sometimes players will need to save up for a while to get what they really want.

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Thankfully, there are a handful of reliable ways to quickly make money in Rockstar Games' online western. Whether players are into PvP or prefer to ride solo, there's a money-making strategy out there that suits just about everybody's needs, meaning that they'll be rolling in cash and Gold before they know it.

Updated June 2, 2021, by Tom Bowen: After a stuttering start, Red Dead Online has grown into one of the most popular online console games of the past decade. There's a ridiculous amount of content on offer, with players able to try their hands at just about anything imaginable in the game's massive open world. The end goal, besides having fun, of course, is to earn enough cash to purchase some of the best items in the game, although players will often need to reinvest their cash in order to unlock new revenue streams. It can take a little while to figure out what's what, although there are certain activities that can really help players to get off to a flying start.

15 Bounty Hunting

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For Red Dead Online players looking for some action, there are always criminals that need to be brought in. Sheriffs will pay good money for wanted criminals, either alive or dead, and players can snag a live one in just a few minutes if they are up to the challenge.

Repeatedly accepting bounties is a great way to level up the Bounty Hunter role and, in turn, get paid much more for completing bounties. More difficult bounties yield higher rewards, and players can even earn some cool new weapons and gear by bounty hunting, too.

14 Moonshine Production

Red Dead Online's newest Frontier Pursuit also happens to pay very well. If players have the Gold necessary to start a moonshine operation, then it's well worth the investment. Moonshine sales happen regularly and fairly quickly, and business owners can be paid handsome sums if they cater to the right buyers.

Like any business, however, a moonshine operation needs supplies to operate, meaning there is a cost involved in running things. Mash and other ingredients aren't the most expensive things in the world, but more frugal players should look elsewhere for extra revenue streams.

13 Completing Missions

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Much like the main game, Red Dead Online features an honor system and whether or not a player is honorable can sometimes determine which missions are available to them. Though both sets of missions have their advantages, players can give themselves a head start financially by tackling all of the dishonorable missions first.

Not only will this provide players with a quick influx of cash, but it will also mean that they'll only need to flip their honor once if they also want to complete some of the honorable missions as well. It's also possible to replay the main story missions for a bit of extra cash, although the rewards are a little lackluster the second time around.

12 Trading

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For the aspiring business owner who doesn't want to pay out of pocket for supplies, there's the Trader role. Setting up shop at camp with Cripps can lead to bountiful payments down the line. All players need to do to keep things running is bring in tons of animal carcasses and pelts.

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Short-distance sales are safer but have smaller payouts, while long-distance sales pay more but expose the goods to the possibility of an outside attack. A smart trader knows which route is best, and repeatedly making the right decisions can drastically increase their income.

11 Collecting

The Collector Role can bring in a pretty hefty payday, but it could take a while longer than more traditional lines of work. The real Collector money is in completed sets, and scrounging up a full set of items can be a daunting task for the uninitiated.

Knowing where to look for certain items is crucial in completing a set, but the sizable reward makes the struggle all the more worthwhile. Rockstar tends to give away Collector items every now and then, too, so players might already have a headstart on certain collections.

10 Treasure Hunting

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Just like in the main game, players are able to get their hands on treasure maps, which can lead them to some incredibly valuable bounties. There are a few different ways for players to obtain them, but the simplest is to increase their rank, with one new map being awarded for every five ranks that the player gains. They can also be found in gang hideouts, although players will need to spill some blood first.

To find the treasure, players will need to select a treasure map from their satchel and then head to the location marked on their mini map. Upon their arrival, Eagle Eye will reveal the treasure's exact location. Rewards can vary, although players can typically expect around half a gold bar, some useful items and a decent amount of cash from each chest.

9 Joining A Posse

As well as the extra security that being part of a group brings with it, joining a posse also opens up a lot of new possibilities when it comes to making money. Rather than having to reach high ranks in each specialist role, different members of the posse can instead specialize in one area, saving all involved a considerable amount of time and effort.

The game regularly has special events, including competitive hunting and fishing challenges, legendary bounties and frontier pursuits. Some of these can be completed solo, although having a team there as backup can greatly increase a player's chances of coming away with the cash. Of course, playing with friends can be a lot more fun too.

8 Showdown Series

If players are good with a gun, then the Showdown Series might be their best bet for earning cash. Being able to place highly on a consistent basis will bring in a steady flow of cash, and doing well will even reward players with a decent amount of Gold as well.

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Showdown Series Large will dole out even more cash, but with a greater risk of losing as a result of the bigger lobbies. Bringing the right loadout will definitely improve a player's odds, and sometimes they might have to spend some money on new weapons in order to successfully make some money in PvP.

7 Races

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Talented riders may want to try their hands at one of Red Dead Online's many races to try and earn some cash. Not many people are running races in Red Dead Online compared to Showdown Series, so it might take a while to find participants, but the reward will be worth the wait.

Mastering the race mechanics can lead to frequent victories. Be sure to learn the track layouts and, when in doubt, try to find a weapon to thin the competition's numbers. With some practice, players should find themselves performing well in no time.

6 Fences

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If players take the time to loot fallen enemies after Red Dead Online's many, many shootouts, they will quickly amass a rather sizable collection of trinkets and valuables. If they take the time to actually seek out a fence and sell those items though, they could be looking at a significant amount of cash.

Fences can be found in Emerald Ranch, Rhodes, Saint Denis, Thieves Landing, and Van Horn Trading Post. As such, players looking to cash in on their ill-gotten gains will need to make their way to one of these shady vendors to offload their valuables in exchange for money.

5 Loot Houses

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Corpses aren't the only place that players can loot valuables in Red Dead Online. The game's world is peppered with houses and properties, many of which contain jewelry and other rare items for players to steal. Most of the houses have something worth taking, but there are a few in particular that are especially profitable.

There was once a time when lootable items respawned every time that players logged back in, effectively allowing them to be collected repeatedly for an unlimited amount of cash and XP. These days, however, players will need to wait a full day before the items show up again, although it's still a great way to make some quick and easy cash.

4 Daily Challenges

While completing daily challenges doesn't reward any money, it does reward a pretty significant amount of Gold. Doing daily challenges regularly is a surefire way to accumulate a stash of premium currency, and these challenges rarely take a long time to complete. That said, there are a few tricky ones from time to time.

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Those who play Red Dead Online regularly should be sure to get a daily challenge streak going. Initially, challenges reward 0.2 Gold Bars each, but this number increases if players complete at least one challenge a day. This can start to add up, especially for those who do multiple challenges in one day with an existing streak multiplier.

3 Free Roam Events

Free Roam Events take place in Red Dead Online every fifteen minutes, and they tend to reward lots of cash and Gold for very little effort. Free Roam Events are very easy to farm, as one usually starts up just as another ends. These are some of Red Dead Online's most entertaining competitive modes, and they're one of the most enjoyable methods of making money.

Placing first in some of the larger Free Roam Events will reward players with huge amounts of money, especially in modes like King of the Castle, Manhunt and Railroad Baron. Players should be on the lookout for the more lucrative Free Roam Events, and never miss an opportunity to join one, especially if it's one in which they know they can do well.

2 Hunting and Fishing

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Hunting and fishing can provide a slow and steady source of income for any Red Dead Online player. Animals can sometimes be hard to come by while out in the open world, but those who know where to look shouldn't have any trouble finding a few deer at the very least.

Animals tend to spawn frequently just outside of Blackwater and Valentine, so these are often the best places to start. As players begin to learn the lie of the land, however, they'll be able to go after larger and move valuable game. This does bring with it a certain level of risk, although the rewards are definitely worth it.

1 Complete Trader Delivery Missions

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Hunting and fishing are best combined with the Trader role in order for players to really maximize efficiency. Smaller animal parts and meat can still be taken to a butcher for cash, but larger carcasses and pelts should instead be taken to camp to keep the player's trading company well supplied.

Upon reaching level 5, players can invest in the larger delivery wagon, which increases the number of units they'll be able to transport in a single delivery. A full wagon will reward players with hundreds of dollars if they opt for the long route, not to mention a ridiculous amount of XP. Players will need to arm themselves well though, as there'll usually be plenty of bandits between them and their final destination.

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