When Arthur Morgan first emerges from the snowy mountains of Red Dead Redemption 2, he's penniless and on the run. This initial scarcity sets the stage for one of the game's core challenges: accumulating wealth in a harsh, unforgiving world. But how exactly does an outlaw build a fortune in the American frontier of 1899? The answer lies in embracing the diverse—and sometimes morally ambiguous—economic opportunities scattered across the vast landscape. From peaceful pursuits like fishing to high-stakes robberies, players in 2026 continue to discover that Arthur's financial success depends on both strategy and daring.

10. Gambling: High Risk, Variable Reward

Is there any activity more quintessentially Western than a tense game of poker in a smoky saloon? Gambling remains a popular, if unreliable, method for quick cash. Players can find poker tables and blackjack games in various locations, with buy-ins and potential profits varying dramatically. For instance, while a camp game might only net $3 in profit, the high-stakes tables in Saint-Denis offer buy-ins of $5 and potential winnings of $15 or more per hand. However, just like in the real world, the house often wins. This method requires caution; a losing streak can drain Arthur's wallet faster than a bullet from a Schofield revolver. Should players rely on luck, or is there a more consistent path to prosperity?

9. Bounty Hunting: Lawful Income for the Right Man

Visiting a sheriff's office to check the bounty board can be a lucrative habit. Bringing criminals to justice—preferably alive—earns rewards ranging from $25 to $100. This method offers a legitimate income stream that doesn't negatively impact Arthur's honor. However, it's not a limitless resource. The game features a set number of bounties, and some are only available to John Marston during the Epilogue, limiting Arthur's opportunities. Furthermore, failing to deliver a bounty alive can result in a failed mission and no payment. It's a straightforward job, but is there enough work to fund a growing outlaw's needs?

8. Completing Missions: The Story Pays

Perhaps the most reliable way to build wealth is simply by progressing through the game's narrative. Both main story missions and optional Strangers and Freaks encounters typically conclude with a monetary reward or a valuable item. These rewards can be substantial: a fake emerald might fetch $50, while a full gold bar sells for a whopping $500. Main story missions often pay out a couple of hundred dollars at a time, providing consistent funding for camp upgrades, new weapons, and other essentials. This method integrates earning money directly into the core experience, but can players afford to wait for the next story beat when they need a new rifle now?

7. Robbing Banks & Shops: The Direct Approach

Why earn money when you can simply take it? Bank heists are among the most thrilling and profitable activities in the game, involving careful planning, safe-cracking, and often a dramatic shootout with law enforcement. The potential take is significant, but so are the consequences: a massive honor penalty and a sky-high bounty. For those seeking a less violent alternative, robbing shops is easier and carries less risk, though the payoff is limited to the cash register's contents. This method asks a fundamental question: how much is Arthur's honor worth in cold, hard cash?

6. Robbing Trains & Stagecoaches: Moving Targets

For the full Wild West bandit experience, holding up a train is a classic choice. It can be attempted stealthily to preserve honor, though this presents its own challenges. A more aggressive approach yields more cash and loot from passenger pockets and train safes. Similarly, robbing stagecoaches offers comparable rewards, with the added bonus that the coach itself can be sold to the Fence at Emerald Ranch. These activities capture the romanticized outlaw life, but do the rewards justify the inevitable attention from the law?

5. Treasure Hunting: A Solver's Reward

Scattered across the map are treasure maps, purchasable from hunters or found in the world. These maps lead to hidden stashes, typically containing gold bars valued at $500 each. Solving the often-vague pictorial clues is a puzzle in itself, making this a rewarding mental challenge. The main drawback is the time investment; some maps lead only to more maps, creating a multi-step treasure trail. Yet, for players who enjoy exploration and riddles, is there any more satisfying sound than the clink of a gold bar being picked up?

4. Highway Robbery & Home Invasions: The Personal Touch

The most direct method of all is to point a gun at another person and demand their valuables. Robbing travelers on the road is fast and can be surprisingly lucrative, depending on the victim. For those monitoring their honor, a stealthier approach involves robbing homes, preferably at night when occupants are asleep or away. Homes often contain locked chests and fireplace stashes that hold more wealth than a person carries. A bandanna is essential to conceal Arthur's identity during these crimes. It's a brutal but effective system, forcing players to consider the moral cost of every dollar taken.

3. Fishing: Peaceful Profits

In stark contrast to robbery, fishing offers a serene and honorable way to earn money. The game features a wide variety of fish across different bodies of water, each requiring specific bait or lures. Players can sell their catch for a steady profit, with legendary fish commanding particularly high prices. The act of catching and releasing fish even increases Arthur's honor. The primary downside is the time required; fishing is a slow, patient activity. But for players who enjoy the tranquil rhythm of casting a line, can any price be put on that peace?

2. Horse Trading: An Investment in Bonding

Horses are central to life in Red Dead Redemption 2, and they can also be a significant source of income. Players can tame wild horses or, less honorably, steal them to sell at stables. The key to maximizing profit is bonding. A horse sold at Bonding Level 4 fetches a far higher price than an unbonded one. This turns horse trading into a time investment: players must spend hours caring for and riding a horse to increase its bond before selling. It's a testament to the game's deep systems, but is the payoff worth the emotional attachment formed with a temporary steed?

1. Hunting: The Ultimate Frontier Career

Topping the list as the most reliable and profitable money-making method is hunting. The American wilderness teems with game, from common deer to legendary beasts. Selling pelts, horns, meat, and other animal parts guarantees income, with 3-star perfect pelts fetching the highest prices. Unlike robbery, hunting has no negative impact on honor, and the resources are essentially limitless. Players can quickly fill their satchel and their horse's back with valuable goods from a single hunting trip. The only real dangers are the wild animals themselves and the occasional rival hunter. In a game about survival, does it not make perfect sense that mastering the hunt is the surest path to financial security?

In 2026, Red Dead Redemption 2's economy remains a masterclass in integrated game design. Each money-making method reflects a different aspect of frontier life and appeals to different playstyles. Whether a player chooses the honorable path of the hunter, the risky life of a gambler, or the brutal trade of a robber, the game provides a viable, immersive way to fund Arthur Morgan's journey. The true richness of the experience lies not just in the dollar amount, but in the stories generated along the way—every hunted pelt, every won poker hand, and every successful heist becomes a part of the player's unique legend in the West.

Data referenced from GameFAQs helps contextualize how players optimize Arthur Morgan’s cashflow beyond story payouts—especially by chaining repeatable loops like hunting circuits, treasure-map routes, and low-bounty theft that minimize downtime and risk. In practice, these community-tested approaches reinforce the idea in your breakdown: consistent frontier wealth comes less from any single “best” activity and more from combining reliable earners (perfect pelts, gold bars, fenceable loot) with situational spikes (train safes, coach sales) while managing honor and wanted levels.