To start The Kortz Center Heist in GTA Online, buy a Prix Luxury Mansion, add the Art Studio upgrade, enter the Art Studio, watch the intro cutscene, then use the planning board to begin the Kortz Center scope-out.
The Kortz Center Heist starts from your Mansion, not from the Kortz Center itself. The important chain is simple but expensive: you need a Prix Luxury Mansion, the Art Studio renovation, and access to the whiteboard setup area inside that room.
Once the intro scene plays, the Art Studio becomes your heist hub for the scope-out, mandatory setups, optional prep work, and finale launch. After that first unlock, you also gain a faster way to start more prep work by calling Raf while you are outside the Mansion.
The Kortz Center Heist requirements and costs
| Requirement | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tongva Estate | $11,500,000 |
| The Vinewood Residence | $12,200,000 |
| Richman Villa | $12,800,000 |
| Art Studio upgrade | $4,700,000 |
A regular apartment, office, nightclub, arcade, agency, or older high-end property will not start this heist. You need one of the three Prix Luxury Mansion properties, then you must renovate that Mansion with the Art Studio additional room.
KEY!The Mansion is the property shell, but the Art Studio is the actual heist hub. If you only buy the Mansion and skip the renovation, the planning board will not be available.
The Art Studio can drop to $2,700,000 if you have the Fine Art Collector Program discount. Without that discount, budget for the full $4.7 million on top of the Mansion price.
How to start The Kortz Center Heist in GTA Online
Follow this flow once to unlock the Art Studio hub and begin the first Kortz Center scope-out.
STEP 1/6
Own or buy a Prix Luxury Mansion
Buy one of the three Prix Luxury Mansions before looking for the Art Studio upgrade.
STEP 2/6
Purchase the Art Studio upgrade
Use the same Mansion website and renovation menu to add the Art Studio, which costs $4,700,000 before discounts.
STEP 3/6
Travel to basement level B2
Go to your Mansion and head down to B2, where the Art Studio marker appears on the minimap.
STEP 4/6
Enter the Art Studio
Walk into the art room, since this is where the Kortz Center Heist setup area lives.
STEP 5/6
Watch the intro cutscene
Your first visit triggers the opening scene with Mr. Faber and Raf De Angelis.
STEP 6/6
Use the whiteboards
Interact with the Art Studio planning boards to begin scoping out the Kortz Center.
Video help
Art Studio access after the intro
After the first cutscene, the heist planning board appears inside the Art Studio. This is where the first scope-out begins, and it is also where the heist structure opens up into mandatory prep missions, optional prep missions, and the finale.
The full setup flow includes 6 mandatory prep missions and 5 optional missions. The optional work is not required to reach the finale, but it can make the job smoother and improve the run depending on how you plan to approach it.
During the Kortz Center scope-out, entry points only need to be found once. Secondary targets, however, must be scoped again for each heist, so expect to repeat that part when you start another run.
Once access is unlocked, you do not have to keep returning to the Art Studio for every prep. Call Raf from your phone while you are outside the Mansion to start mandatory prep, optional prep, or another scope-out.
Enable Snapmatic double-click on your phone before the first scope-out so taking required photos around the Kortz Center is faster.
Best Mansion location for The Kortz Center Heist
| Mansion | Best use |
|---|---|
| Tongva Estate | Works for access, but is less attractive for fast Kortz Center routing. |
| The Vinewood Residence | Strong everyday pick for many prep mission routes. |
| Richman Villa | Best for finale proximity to the Kortz Center. |
Your Mansion choice mostly affects travel time and convenience. Richman Villa has the obvious finale advantage because it is closest to the Kortz Center, while The Vinewood Residence feels strong for many prep routes in early hands-on routing.
Treat this as practical route guidance, not a hard ranking. If you own multiple Mansions, you can start a prep from one location and deliver setup supplies to another, which makes it easier to use whichever Mansion is better for that specific route.
First scope-out tips
Before you start the first scope-out, turn on the Snapmatic double-click option on your in-game phone. It makes photo-taking less clumsy, which matters when you are moving around the Kortz Center looking for paintings, secondary targets, points of interest, and entry points.
After the Art Studio is unlocked, use Raf from your phone to start prep missions when you are already out in the world. Returning to the Art Studio every time is only necessary when you specifically want to use the board or manage the heist from the room.
Mistakes that stop The Kortz Center Heist from starting
The most common issue is buying the Mansion but not buying the Art Studio. The Mansion alone does not unlock The Kortz Center Heist; the Art Studio renovation is the piece that gives you the cutscene and planning board.
Do not search for the start point at the Kortz Center or expect a normal world-map heist marker before the Art Studio is unlocked. Start from the Mansion’s Art Studio board first, then use Raf’s phone option for faster prep access later.
Also make sure you are using the right property type. Only the three Prix Luxury Mansion properties work, and the update content must be available in your game before the Art Studio renovation appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you start The Kortz Center Heist without a Mansion?
No. You need a Prix Luxury Mansion and the Art Studio upgrade before The Kortz Center Heist can start.
Where is the heist planning board?
The planning board is inside the Art Studio in your Mansion. Go to basement level B2, enter the art room, watch the intro cutscene, then use the whiteboards.
How much does the Art Studio cost?
The Art Studio costs $4,700,000 at base price. With the Fine Art Collector Program discount, it can cost $2,700,000.
Can you start prep missions without returning to the Mansion?
Yes. After the Art Studio intro unlocks heist access, you can call Raf while outside the Mansion to start mandatory prep missions, optional prep missions, or a scope-out.
Do you have to scope entry points every time?
No. Entry points only need to be scoped once. Secondary targets must be scoped again for each heist run.
More questions⤵
Can The Kortz Center Heist be played solo?
Yes. The Kortz Center Heist can be played solo or with up to four players.
Leave a Reply