How much money did Michael have at the beginning of GTA 5?

Michael De Santa, one of the three playable protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V, starts the game with a bit over $7,000 in his bank account. This is in stark contrast to the other two protagonists:

• Franklin Clinton begins with only around $300
• Trevor Philips has $108,000 at the start

So why does Michael, a retired bank robber living in a mansion in Rockford Hills, begin with such a relatively paltry sum? Let‘s take a deeper look at Michael‘s background and financial situation.

Michael‘s Criminal Past Brought Him Millions

Though he begins GTA V with less than $10,000, Michael amassed a huge fortune earlier in his criminal career. He conducted numerous high-stake heists and robberies, which brought in tens of millions of dollars.

According to estimates, Michael‘s total career haul from crime totals around $43 million. His biggest scores included:

• A $10 million haul from a Paleto bank robbery in 2004
• A $15 million take from a jewel store job in 2005
• Over $8 million from robbing an armored truck in 2006

So in his heyday, Michael regularly pulled in multi-million dollar paydays. But that was then…

Michael‘s Luxurious Lifestyle Drained His Fortune

Though he scored big as a professional thief, Michael plowed through most of his ill-gotten gains maintaining an extravagant lifestyle. After faking his death and relocating to Los Santos, Michael embraced the high life:

• Lavish mansion – His Spanish-style abode in Rockford Hills is worth over $2 million.

• Fancy cars – His garage houses luxury vehicles like a Tailgater, Premier, Feltzer, and Obey 9F.

• Family spending – Supporting his wife Amanda and two children is extremely costly.

• Therapy – Michael spends $5,000 per session with Dr. Isiah Friedlander.

• Hookers – Michael frequently hires prostitutes, another expensive habit.

Add it all up, and Michael‘s excessive spending outpaced his income. Hence, his relatively meager $7,000 bank account balance at the start of GTA V.

Estimating Michael‘s Total Wealth in GTA 5

Though he only has $7,000 in liquid assets, Michael‘s total net worth is still in the millions. Here‘s a breakdown:

• Bank account – $7,000
• House – $2+ million
• Cars & lifestyle – $500,000+
• Business interests – $500,000+
• Offshore accounts – Estimated $10+ million

So while Michael‘s bank account is nearly empty, he still has ample assets and net worth. And as GTA V progresses, he quickly begins accumulating cash again through new heists and other crimes.

By the end of the game, Michael could easily be worth $20 million or more. Though he squandered his earlier fortune, his exploits in Los Santos put Michael back on the road to riches.