Chadley Kemp (preferably just "Chad") has nearly a decade of editorial experience spanning esports, gaming, crypto, and betting content, covering everything from Counter-Strike and VALORANT to League of Legends and Dota 2. Outside of esports, Chadley holds a Ph.D. in Physiology and has published research in several peer-reviewed scientific journals.
How to get the Panther Statue in GTA Online
By Chadley Kemp
The GTA Online Panther Statue is one of the rarest and most valuable Primary Targets in the Cayo Perico Heist. Unlike standard targets like the Pink Diamond or Bearer Bonds, it is not always available and appears exclusively during limited-time events activated by Rockstar.
As part of the latest GTA Online weekly update, the Panther Statue will return to El Rubio’s vault from August 6th to August 12th, 2026, as part of the Summer Heist Event. So, here’s how to get it while it’s active.
Is the Panther Statue available in GTA Online?
Yes, the Panther Statue is currently available in GTA Online from August 6th to 12th, 2026.
Rockstar confirmed in the July 30th Newswire that the statue will appear as the Primary Target during your first eligible Cayo Perico Heist run. You do not need to repeatedly cancel and restart the heist to find it. Just make sure you start the eligible heist and scope the Panther Statue before the next GTA Online weekly reset on August 13th.
How to get the Panther Statue in GTA Online
To get the Panther Statue, you must host The Cayo Perico Heist while the target is available through an active GTA Online event.
How to unlock the Cayo Perico Heist
Before you can host the heist, you have to visit Miguel Madrazo inside The Music Locker beneath the Diamond Casino & Resort.
After meeting Miguel, you’ll be able to purchase the Kosatka submarine from Warstock Cache & Carry. The Kosatka price ranges from GTA$2,200,000 to GTA$9,085,000 and acts as the planning base for The Cayo Perico Heist.
Once purchased, enter the submarine and use the Heist Planning Table to begin the Gather Intel mission. Note that starting a repeat Cayo Perico Heist currently requires a GTA$100,000 setup fee.
Scope out the Panther Statue
During the Gather Intel mission, travel to Cayo Perico and reach the communications tower.
Once you arrive, hack the signal box and open the Sightseer app to access El Rubio’s security cameras. Cycle through the camera feeds until you reach the basement display case inside the compound.
The Panther Statue should be visible inside the glass case (if it’s active). Once identified, it becomes the confirmed Primary Target for that heist. You do not physically collect the statue during the intelligence mission.
Complete the required preparation missions
Once the Panther Statue is the Primary Target for the heist, you can return to Los Santos and complete the mandatory Cayo Perico preparation missions from the Kosatka.
You will need to select an approach vehicle, acquire the necessary equipment, and obtain a weapon loadout. Once the mandatory preparations are finished, launch the finale from the Heist Planning Table in the Kosatka.
Steal the Panther Statue
To actually steal the Panther Statue in GTA Online, you’ll have to reach El Rubio’s compound during the finale and enter the underground vault.
The method used to remove the Panther Statue differs from that used for some other Primary Targets. Instead of opening a safe, your character uses the Plasma Cutter to break into the display case.
After collecting the statue, escape the compound and leave Cayo Perico to complete the heist and receive your payout.
Note: If you have never completed The Cayo Perico Heist before, you must first finish the introductory Madrazo Files run before becoming eligible for the Panther Statue.
What is the Panther Statue worth in GTA Online?
The Panther Statue is worth GTA$1,900,000 on Normal Mode and GTA$2,090,000 on Hard Mode.
That makes it the most valuable individual Primary Target in The Cayo Perico Heist. The Hard Mode version is worth GTA$190,000 more because the difficulty increases the Primary Target’s value by 10%.
That said, the final payout is reduced by Pavel’s 2% cut and a 10% fencing fee, and you also need to subtract the GTA$100,000 setup cost to get your real profit (more on that later).
How to get the Panther Statue on Hard Mode
Hard Mode increases the Panther Statue’s gross value from GTA$1,900,000 to GTA$2,090,000, making it the most profitable version of the target. However, you cannot select Hard Mode manually from the finale screen.
After you complete the finale solo, it will trigger a cooldown of three in-game days (144 real-world minutes). Pavel will then contact you to let you know that the heist is available again. From that point, you have roughly one in-game day (48 real-world minutes) to pay the setup fee and unlock Hard Mode.
Can you get the Panther Statue more than once?
Rockstar guarantees the Panther Statue during your first eligible attempt at the Cayo Perico Heist during the event, but it does not guarantee another statue after that run has been used.
Any subsequent heists may return to the standard Primary Target rotation, so you should treat the first eligible run as your guaranteed opportunity. You should therefore not repeatedly cancel Cayo Perico Heists in the hope that the statue will reappear.
Outside an event, canceling and restarting the heist will not activate the Panther Statue, as its availability is entirely controlled by Rockstar.
Can you steal the Panther Statue solo in GTA Online?
Yes, the Panther Statue can be stolen solo in GTA Online.
The Cayo Perico Heist supports between 1 and 4 players, but running the finale alone allows you to keep the full player cut after the mandatory fees. When you bring on additional players, it can provide access to more secondary loot, although the final payout must then be divided between the participants.
The statue’s value does not change with the number of players. It is determined by whether the heist is running on Normal or Hard Mode. That said, completing the Cayo Perico Heist finale solo won’t be easy, so be sure to factor that into the equation.
How to maximize the Panther Statue payout
Hard Mode provides the largest possible value for the Panther Statue, so experienced players should activate it whenever the timing allows.
You should also fill your loot bag with secondary targets before escaping Cayo Perico. Secondary loot is added directly to your Primary Target value, and gold (when available in co-op) provides the highest efficiency per bag space.
Completing the Elite Challenge can provide a bonus of GTA$50,000 on Normal Mode or GTA$100,000 on Hard Mode. However, you must finish the finale in under 15 minutes, fill every player’s loot bag, avoid failed hacks, ensure nobody is killed, and remain undetected while inside El Rubio’s compound.
To understand your real earnings, it helps to break down the full Cayo Perico payout structure. Your final profit is not just the Panther Statue value. It is instead the combined total of Primary Target + Secondary Loot + Elite Challenge bonus, minus Pavel’s 2% cut and the 10% fencing fee.
Cayo Perico Heist payout breakdown (solo run)
A solo Cayo Perico Heist with the Panther Statue can generate an estimated net profit of approximately GTA$1.89 million to GTA$2.25 million. The exact payout depends on the difficulty, available secondary loot, money found in El Rubio’s office safe, and whether you complete the Elite Challenge.
| Component | Normal Mode (GTA$) | Hard Mode (GTA$) |
| Panther Statue | 1,900,000 | 2,090,000 |
| Secondary loot — full solo bag | 283,500–364,500 | 283,500–364,500 |
| El Rubio’s office safe | 18,000–99,000 | 18,000–99,000 |
| Gross heist take | 2,201,500–2,363,500 | 2,391,500–2,553,500 |
| Fencing fee and Pavel’s cut — 12% | −264,180 to −283,620 | −286,980 to −306,420 |
| Elite Challenge | +50,000 | +100,000 |
| Setup cost | −100,000 | −100,000 |
| Estimated host profit | 1,887,320–2,029,880 | 2,104,520–2,247,080 |
GTA Online Panther Statue FAQs
How rare is the Panther Statue?
The Panther Statue is extremely rare because it is not part of the permanent Cayo Perico target rotation. Rockstar only activates it during selected event weeks and does not follow a fixed public schedule.
Is the Panther Statue guaranteed?
Yes. The Panther Statue is guaranteed, but only when Rockstar explicitly announces it. During the August 6th–12th, 2026 event, it is guaranteed on your first eligible Cayo Perico run.
Where is the Panther Statue located?
The statue is stored inside a glass display case in the basement vault beneath El Rubio’s compound.
Do you need two players to steal it?
No. You can scope and steal the Panther Statue while playing The Cayo Perico Heist solo.
Can you reroll for the Panther Statue?
No. Canceling and restarting the heist cannot make the Panther Statue appear while it is disabled. During a guaranteed event, it should appear naturally on your first eligible run without rerolling.
When will the Panther Statue return?
Rockstar does not follow a fixed public schedule for Panther Statue events. You’ll have to wait for it to be announced through a GTA Online weekly update or another limited-time event.
