Buying Tinkle (TNK) shares in GTA 5 is one of the most reliable ways to multiply your money using the in-game BAWSAQ stock market. By investing before the right assassination mission and selling at the peak, you can turn tens of thousands of dollars into a fortune with minimal risk. This guide walks you through every step, from opening the in-game phone to cashing out for maximum profit.
What you need to know before you start
Tinkle is a fictional telecommunications company in GTA 5, traded under the ticker TNK on the BAWSAQ exchange — accessible through your phone's internet browser. Its share price spikes after Franklin completes the Multi Target Assassination mission, because that mission is scripted to drive Tinkle's competitor out of business. The strategy is simple: buy TNK before you start the mission, complete it, wait a short time for the price to peak, and then sell. For the biggest payout, hold off on this assassination until all three main characters have as much cash on hand as possible.
How to buy Tinkle shares in GTA 5
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Step 1: Pull Up Your In-Game Phone
To access the stock market you first need to open your character's smartphone. On PC press T (default), or on PlayStation/Xbox press Up on the D-Pad. The phone appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen. From there you will tap the Internet browser icon to launch the in-game web browser — this is how you reach BAWSAQ.
Press T on PC or Up on the D-Pad to open your phone, then tap the Internet browser icon. -
Step 2: Navigate to BAWSAQ and Find Tinkle
Inside the phone browser, go to Money and Services and select BAWSAQ, or type bawsaq.com directly into the address bar. The BAWSAQ page lists every publicly traded company. Scroll down until you find TNK — Tinkle. The share price before the mission tends to be low, which is exactly what makes this investment so attractive.
Open BAWSAQ in the phone browser and locate Tinkle (TNK) in the stock list. -
Step 3: Purchase Tinkle (TNK) Shares
Click on the TNK row to open the stock detail page. You will see the current price per share, a price history chart, and a buy panel. Enter the number of shares you want to purchase — invest as much of your available cash as possible to maximise your returns. Then click Buy to confirm the purchase. Repeat this step for all three playable characters (Michael, Trevor, and Franklin) to multiply the total profit.
Enter the quantity of shares and tap Buy Shares — invest all available cash for maximum gain. -
Step 4: Complete the Multi Target Assassination Mission
Switch to Franklin and call Lester to start the Multi Target Assassination mission. You will be given a list of four targets to eliminate across the map. Work through each target as efficiently as possible. Once all four targets have been taken out the mission ends and Tinkle's share price begins to rise in response to the market event scripted into the mission.
Eliminate all four targets on the map. Completing the mission triggers the Tinkle stock surge. -
Step 5: Wait for the Peak, Then Sell
After finishing the mission, the TNK share price will not be at its maximum immediately. Save your game and sleep at a safehouse one to three times to fast-forward in-game time — this lets the stock reach its peak value. Once BAWSAQ shows a strong gain on TNK (typically around +100% or more), return to the BAWSAQ page, select TNK, and click Sell to cash out. Sell all shares with every character to collect the full profit.
Sleep at a safehouse to advance time, then sell all TNK shares when the price peaks for maximum profit.
Tips for maximum profit
- Delay the assassination. Do not start the Multi Target Assassination until after you have completed the main story heists and have accumulated as much cash as possible with all three characters. The more money you invest, the bigger the return.
- Invest with all three characters. Michael, Trevor, and Franklin each have separate portfolios. Switch between them and buy TNK shares with each one before starting the mission.
- Sleep at safehouses to advance time. The stock price does not peak instantly. Saving and sleeping once or twice in-game fast-forwards the clock and lets the price climb. Check BAWSAQ after each sleep cycle.
- Watch for the plateau. Once TNK stops rising and starts to drift sideways or dip, that is your sell signal — don't wait too long or the price will slide back down.
- BAWSAQ requires an internet connection. Unlike the LCN exchange, BAWSAQ reflects the real Rockstar Social Club player network. You need to be online for BAWSAQ prices to update correctly.
Troubleshooting
The TNK stock price is not rising after the mission
Give it more in-game time. Sleep at a safehouse and check BAWSAQ again. If the price still doesn't move, confirm that you are online and that the mission was fully completed (all four targets eliminated).
BAWSAQ shows "market is closed"
BAWSAQ can be unavailable if you are not connected to the Rockstar Social Club servers. Check your internet connection, launch GTA Online briefly to confirm your online status, then switch back to story mode and try again.
I already started the assassination before buying shares
Unfortunately the stock boost is tied directly to completing the mission. If you finished it without buying TNK first, the opportunity for that specific boost has passed. Focus on the remaining assassination missions — each one pairs with different stocks — and buy those before proceeding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tinkle stock ticker in GTA 5?
Tinkle trades under the ticker symbol TNK on the BAWSAQ exchange, accessible via your in-game phone's internet browser under Money and Services.
Which assassination mission boosts Tinkle shares?
The Multi Target Assassination mission, given by Lester to Franklin, drives the TNK price up. Buy shares before accepting the mission and sell after completing it once the price peaks.
How much can you earn from Tinkle stock in GTA 5?
Returns vary depending on how much cash you invest, but the stock typically rises over 100% after the mission. Investing tens of millions of dollars with all three characters can yield returns in the hundreds of millions.
Do I need to be online to use BAWSAQ in GTA 5?
Yes. BAWSAQ is connected to Rockstar's servers and requires an active internet connection. If you are offline, use the LCN exchange instead — though BAWSAQ usually offers larger swings on assassination-linked stocks.
Can I buy Tinkle shares on LCN instead of BAWSAQ?
No. Tinkle (TNK) is listed exclusively on BAWSAQ. The rival company affected by the Multi Target Assassination may appear on LCN, but TNK itself is only available through the BAWSAQ browser page.
Final thoughts
Buying Tinkle shares in GTA 5 is one of the cleanest money-making plays in the game — scripted, predictable, and highly rewarding when timed correctly. The key is patience: invest heavily before the Multi Target Assassination, complete the mission, sleep a couple of times in-game, and sell at the peak. For more on GTA 5's in-game economy, see the official Rockstar Games GTA V page.
