Source plot synopsis — includes the ending
In 2004, criminals Michael Townley (Ned Luke), Trevor Philips (Steven Ogg), and Brad Snider (Ryan Woodle) partake in a failed robbery in Ludendorff, North Yankton, resulting in Michael being presumed dead. Nine years later, Michael lives with his family in the city of Los Santos under the alias Michael De Santa, having made a secret agreement with Federal Investigation Bureau (FIB) agent Dave Norton (Julian Gamble) to stay hidden. Across town, gangbanger Franklin Clinton (Shawn Fonteno) works for a corrupt car salesman and meets Michael while attempting to fraudulently repossess his son's car; the two later become friends. When Michael finds his wife having an affair with her tennis coach, he and Franklin chase the coach to a mansion, which Michael damages in anger. The owner, drug lord Martin Madrazo (Alfredo Huereca), demands monetary compensation, so Michael returns to a life of crime to obtain the funds, enlisting Franklin as an accomplice. With the help of Michael's old friend Lester Crest (Jay Klaitz), a disabled hacker, they rob a jewellery store to pay off the debt.
Meanwhile, Trevor, who lives in squalor in rural Blaine County, hears of the heist and recognises Michael's work; Trevor had believed the FIB killed Michael in the Ludendorff heist. They reunite, forcing Michael to reluctantly accept Trevor back into his life. As time goes on, the protagonists' lives spiral out of control. Michael's criminal behaviour prompts his family to leave him. When he later becomes a movie producer, he comes into conflict with Devin Weston (Jonathan Walker), a billionaire venture capitalist and corporate raider, who attempts to shut down the studio. Michael thwarts his efforts and inadvertently kills his lawyer, to which Devin vows revenge. Meanwhile, Franklin rescues his friend Lamar Davis (Slink Johnson) from rival gangbanger Harold "Stretch" Joseph (Hassan Johnson), who sets up and attempts to kill him multiple times.
Concurrently, Trevor tries to consolidate his control over various black markets in Blaine County, waging war against the Lost outlaw motorcycle club, Latino street gangs, rival meth dealers, the private military company Merryweather, and triad kingpin Wei Cheng (George Cheung). Having broken their agreement, Michael is coerced by Dave and his superior agent, Steve Haines (Robert Bogue), to perform a series of operations with Franklin and Trevor to undermine the International Affairs Agency (IAA). Under Steve's direction and with Lester's help, they attack an armored car carrying funds for the IAA and steal an experimental nerve agent from an IAA-controlled lab. As Steve comes under increasing scrutiny, he forces Michael and Franklin to break into the FIB building and erase evidence against him from the servers. Michael takes the opportunity to wipe the data on his own activities, destroying Steve's leverage over him.
Michael, Trevor, Franklin, and Lester start planning their final heist: raiding the Union Depository's gold bullion reserve. However, Trevor discovers that Brad was not imprisoned as he was led to believe, but killed in the Ludendorff heist and buried in Michael's grave. Deducing Michael had conspired to have him killed, Trevor feels betrayed and leaves Michael for dead during a shootout with Cheng's henchmen. Although Franklin rescues Michael, Trevor's anger causes friction within the group and threatens to undermine their plans. Meanwhile, Steve attempts to arrest Michael, but they, as well as Dave, become caught in a Mexican standoff between the FIB, the IAA, and Merryweather. Steve escapes while Michael and Dave are saved by Trevor, who has decided to collaborate with Michael on the Union Depository heist and then part ways.
Michael reconciles with his family, and the heist is successful. Around the same time, Franklin is approached by Steve and Dave, who contend that Trevor is a liability, and Devin, still seeking vengeance on Michael. Franklin is left with three options: kill Trevor, kill Michael, or attempt to save both in a suicide mission. Should Franklin choose to kill either Michael or Trevor, his relationship with the man he spares ceases. Otherwise, the trio, aided by Lamar and Lester, withstand an onslaught from the FIB and Merryweather before killing Cheng, Stretch, Steve, and Devin. Michael and Trevor reconcile, and the three protagonists cease working together but remain friends.
Meanwhile, Trevor, who lives in squalor in rural Blaine County, hears of the heist and recognises Michael's work; Trevor had believed the FIB killed Michael in the Ludendorff heist. They reunite, forcing Michael to reluctantly accept Trevor back into his life. As time goes on, the protagonists' lives spiral out of control. Michael's criminal behaviour prompts his family to leave him. When he later becomes a movie producer, he comes into conflict with Devin Weston (Jonathan Walker), a billionaire venture capitalist and corporate raider, who attempts to shut down the studio. Michael thwarts his efforts and inadvertently kills his lawyer, to which Devin vows revenge. Meanwhile, Franklin rescues his friend Lamar Davis (Slink Johnson) from rival gangbanger Harold "Stretch" Joseph (Hassan Johnson), who sets up and attempts to kill him multiple times.
Concurrently, Trevor tries to consolidate his control over various black markets in Blaine County, waging war against the Lost outlaw motorcycle club, Latino street gangs, rival meth dealers, the private military company Merryweather, and triad kingpin Wei Cheng (George Cheung). Having broken their agreement, Michael is coerced by Dave and his superior agent, Steve Haines (Robert Bogue), to perform a series of operations with Franklin and Trevor to undermine the International Affairs Agency (IAA). Under Steve's direction and with Lester's help, they attack an armored car carrying funds for the IAA and steal an experimental nerve agent from an IAA-controlled lab. As Steve comes under increasing scrutiny, he forces Michael and Franklin to break into the FIB building and erase evidence against him from the servers. Michael takes the opportunity to wipe the data on his own activities, destroying Steve's leverage over him.
Michael, Trevor, Franklin, and Lester start planning their final heist: raiding the Union Depository's gold bullion reserve. However, Trevor discovers that Brad was not imprisoned as he was led to believe, but killed in the Ludendorff heist and buried in Michael's grave. Deducing Michael had conspired to have him killed, Trevor feels betrayed and leaves Michael for dead during a shootout with Cheng's henchmen. Although Franklin rescues Michael, Trevor's anger causes friction within the group and threatens to undermine their plans. Meanwhile, Steve attempts to arrest Michael, but they, as well as Dave, become caught in a Mexican standoff between the FIB, the IAA, and Merryweather. Steve escapes while Michael and Dave are saved by Trevor, who has decided to collaborate with Michael on the Union Depository heist and then part ways.
Michael reconciles with his family, and the heist is successful. Around the same time, Franklin is approached by Steve and Dave, who contend that Trevor is a liability, and Devin, still seeking vengeance on Michael. Franklin is left with three options: kill Trevor, kill Michael, or attempt to save both in a suicide mission. Should Franklin choose to kill either Michael or Trevor, his relationship with the man he spares ceases. Otherwise, the trio, aided by Lamar and Lester, withstand an onslaught from the FIB and Merryweather before killing Cheng, Stretch, Steve, and Devin. Michael and Trevor reconcile, and the three protagonists cease working together but remain friends.
Sources and content license
Source and revision history ↗ · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Grand Theft Auto V. Section headings and formatting adjusted. · Content license