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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIn Red Dead Redemption 2 Story Mode, John can build up cash through one-time treasure and gold-bar hauls, then earn more through hunting or bounty work. Robbery can pay too, but risks a bounty and lower honor. If you are still playing as Arthur, you can also try a reported Aberdeen Pig Farm money-transfer trick before the epilogue.
First, make sure you mean Story Mode
John Marston’s epilogue money is separate from Red Dead Online’s Gold Bars. Rockstar describes Online Gold Bars as a currency for unlocking online goods, not as a way to fund John’s Story Mode cash. Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 page presents Story Mode and Red Dead Online as separate parts of the product.
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Best ways to make money as John
| Method | When it pays | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Treasure hunts and gold bars | One-time windfalls; Fullclear’s 2026 Story Mode guide lists a standard Fence sale value of $500 per gold bar. | Strong for a cash boost, but not a repeatable income loop. The guide identifies the Limpany Sheriff’s Office as an accessible early gold-bar location. Fullclear’s money guide also recommends treasure hunts. |
| Hunting | Repeatable income from selling high-quality pelts and legendary-animal parts. | High-quality pelts can also contribute materials for craftable gear, so selling every valuable pelt may compete with crafting goals. Source: Fullclear’s money guide. |
| Bounty hunting | Repeatable earnings from bounty work. | Fullclear characterizes it as honor-positive. This advice concerns Story Mode; Rockstar’s separate bounty-hunter tips for Red Dead Online describe the online role, not John’s epilogue. Rockstar’s Online bounty-hunter tips. |
| Robbery | Potential cash and valuables from travelers, homes, shops, or coaches. | Robbery can add a bounty and hurt honor, so it is a riskier choice than lawful activities. Source: Fullclear’s money guide. |
The available sources do not establish a reliable payout-per-minute ranking, so choose based on whether you want an immediate windfall, repeatable activity, or are willing to accept robbery’s consequences.
Use treasure and gold bars for a one-time boost
Treasure hunts and gold bars are the clearest routes for a lump sum. Fullclear’s 2026 guide gives the standard Story Mode Fence sale value as $500 per gold bar and points to the Limpany Sheriff’s Office as an accessible early find. It also recommends treasure hunts for valuable loot. The game’s official guide description covers treasure hunts and maps as part of its broader game reference.
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- From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption
- The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created
- Covers a huge range of 19th century American landscapes
- Play as Arthur Morgan, lead enforcer in the notorious Van der Linde gang
- Interact with every character in the world with more than just your gun;Engage in conversation with people you meet. Your actions influence Arthur's honour;Horses are a cowboy's best friend, both transport and personal companion;Bond with your horse as you ride together to unlock new abilities
Once you have a gold bar, sell it to a Fence to turn it into cash. Treasure maps and hunts take more effort than simply selling a found bar, but offer another path to valuable finds.
Keep money coming in with hunting or bounty work
Hunting
Hunting is a flexible repeatable option while exploring. Fullclear recommends legendary animals and high-quality pelts as sources of income; pelts and animal materials may also be useful for crafting, so decide whether cash or gear progress matters more before selling.
Rank #2
- From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption
- The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created. 4K Ultra HD not available on Xbox One or Xbox One S consoles
- Covers a huge range of 19th century American landscapes
- Play as Arthur Morgan, lead enforcer in the notorious Van der Linde gang
- Interact with every character in the world with more than just your gun
Bounty hunting
Bounty work is another repeatable activity and is described by Fullclear as honor-positive. Do not confuse that Story Mode option with Rockstar’s Red Dead Online bounty hunter role, which belongs to the separate online mode.
Robbery pays, but has consequences
Robbing travelers, homes, shops, or coaches can produce money and valuables, but it may also add a bounty and cost honor. It is best treated as a trade-off rather than the default way to get rich, particularly if you want to avoid the costs and consequences associated with being wanted.
Rank #3
- Get exclusive access to a bank robbery mission
- A collection of exclusive story mode boosts, bonuses and discounts
- Get three weapons Free at gunsmiths
Spoiler tip: The Aberdeen Pig Farm transfer
A fan-maintained wiki reports that Arthur can leave money at Aberdeen Pig Farm and John can retrieve it after “Motherhood” in Epilogue 1. The reported timing matters: set it up as Arthur before moving into the epilogue, leave the stash uncollected, then return as John. This is a community-reported trick rather than an official feature, and it is not established to work in every save or game version. The fan wiki’s Aberdeen Pig Farm page describes the method.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Optional reference for completionists
The Red Dead Redemption 2 Complete Official Guide is an optional reference whose description includes treasure hunts, robberies, bounty hunting, maps, and completion routes. It is not needed to earn money in the game; current retail availability and price are not established here. Piggyback’s guide page.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is forced to hunt down the gang of criminals he once called friends.
- Experience Marston’s journey across the sprawling expanses of the American West and Mexico as he fights to bury his blood-stained past in the critically acclaimed adventure.
- Also included is Undead Nightmare, the ground-breaking horror story expansion that transforms the world of Red Dead Redemption into an apocalyptic fight for survival against a zombie horde.
- Experience the epic western adventures that defined a generation
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