How Much Did Rockstar Make from GTA 5? (All-Time Stats)

Grand Theft Auto V is the seventh main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series and the fifteenth overall installment. Released on September 17, 2013, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the game has since expanded to multiple console generations, including PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The game represents a significant milestone for Rockstar Games, becoming their best-selling title and maintaining a strong sales performance over a decade after launch. GTA V has generated massive revenue through consistent sales across different platforms and generations of gaming hardware.

In this article, we'll explore how much Rockstar Games has made from GTA V over time, breaking down revenue from sales across different platforms with detailed statistics and insights.

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How Much Money Has GTA 5 Made Since Release?

Since its September 2013 launch, GTA V has generated massive revenue across multiple console generations. By late 2023, Barron's reported the game's lifetime revenue figures had increased to $8.5 billion, consistently generating over $500 million annually with about 22 million monthly active players. Recent reports from May 2025 suggest the game had generated nearly $10 billion in revenue since its release.

The game achieved record-breaking sales from day one. Within 24 hours of its release, Grand Theft Auto V generated more than US$815 million in worldwide revenue, equating to approximately 11.21 million copies sold. Three days after its release, the game had surpassed one billion dollars in sales, making it the fastest-selling entertainment product in history.

GTA V has maintained a strong sales performance for more than a decade. By March 2025, the game had shipped 215 million copies worldwide across all platforms, making it the second-best-selling video game of all time with 215 million copies shipped, and one of the most financially successful entertainment products of all time.

The entire Grand Theft Auto franchise has benefited significantly from GTA V's success. Based on data provided by Take-Two Interactive, the Grand Theft Auto series of games has now generated $8.93 billion since Grand Theft Auto V's launch in September 2013. This positions GTA V as not just Rockstar's most successful title, but one of the most profitable entertainment products across all media.

GTA 5 Modded Accounts

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GTA 5 Sales Breakdown

Since its 2013 launch, GTA V has sold tens of millions of copies each year across multiple platform releases. The game started on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, then expanded to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC, and most recently PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions.

The launch performance broke entertainment records. By May 2014, revenue had reached nearly $2 billion. GTA V sold at least 10 million copies annually from 2014 through 2021. The game peaked again in 2020 with 20 million copies sold, its best performance since the original launch year. Recent data shows the game sold over 5 million copies from February to March 2025, maintaining strong quarterly sales over a decade after release.

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Will GTA VI Surpass GTA V’s Sales?

Industry analysts predict GTA VI will surpass GTA V's record-breaking performance. DFC Intelligence forecasts show the game generating $3.2 billion in first-year revenue, with $1 billion expected from pre-orders alone. Analysts estimate GTA 6 could sell around 40 million copies in its first year. Additional projections suggest lifetime earnings will exceed $10 billion, with GTA Online contributing substantial ongoing revenue.

The development investment reflects these massive expectations. Financial Times estimates development costs ranging "from hundreds of millions to two billion dollars", though Take-Two has officially confirmed that over the past five years, GTA 6's budget has already exceeded $1 billion. Rumors suggested the game's budget surpassed $1–2 billion, making it the most expensive game to develop, though the figure remained unverified.

This represents a significant increase from GTA V's development costs. The 2013 release required approximately $265 million for development and marketing combined, making it one of the most expensive games of its time.

The substantially higher investment in GTA VI, combined with projected revenue trajectories, indicates the sequel will likely exceed both GTA V's sales figures and lifetime earnings. The financial backing demonstrates Take-Two's confidence in delivering what industry experts call "one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, not just in games but for all of media".

Final Words

GTA V has generated nearly $10 billion since 2013, selling 215 million copies and maintaining strong quarterly performance over a decade later. GTA VI projections show $3.2 billion in first-year revenue against development costs exceeding $1 billion. The numbers suggest Rockstar's sequel will surpass its predecessor as the most profitable entertainment launch in history.

GTA V Accounts