Red Dead Redemption 2 is full of people to meet. In Saint Denis, you might pass a street vendor named Timothy Donahue selling his Get Rich Quick book. He’ll be standing on a street on the north side of Saint Denis, directly south of the barber shop.
Both his pitch and the title of the book he’s selling, Get Rich Quick, make it tempting to buy, even if it does cost $50. The problem with it, like most get rich quick schemes, is that it’s nonsense. There’s nothing in the book about how to make money, and you’ll only find yourself out $50.
If you do buy the book, you can talk to Timothy again on a subsequent visit to Saint Denis — he’ll be standing in the same spot. He’ll run away from you once you complain about his book/scam, but if you chase him down and rough him up a little (a lot), you can loot your $50 back from him. Just try to do it out of sight of the cops.
If you’re interested in better ways to make money that actually work, you can check out our guide to making money and our guide to gold bars.
There are plenty of shady characters in Red Dead Redemption 2. Because of their chosen profession, the Van der Linde gang tends to come across these types rather often. Still, even among bandits, there is a certain intuition about certain types that gives players obvious signs of worry.
When meeting Timothy A. Donahue, it's immediately apparent that he's likely involved in some kind of get-rich-quick scheme. Still, sometimes these kinds of ventures pan out, especially in Red Dead Redemption 2, where people find gold nuggets and regularly win horse races.
Updated on October 21st, 2021 by Hodey Johns: There are a few games that players will never seem to stop playing and Red Dead Redemption 2 is firmly on that list. The engaging story, the voice, acting, the small decisions, and the action all add up to an unforgettable experience. Still, it's easy to go through the game making as many of the same choices as the time prior to this. As a result, this guide is still being used to figure out whether the protagonist should try to do something different with Donahue. This guide has been updated to show to consequences of either decision.
Where To Find Timothy A. Donahue
As with many NPCs, Timothy Donahue appears randomly. When he is available, he'll be near the Bastille Saloon in the center of Saint Denis. Look for the wagon full of books. He's selling his conspicuously titled book called "Get Rich Quick."
Really take him in. He's dirty. His jacket is patched up. The guy would be better suited to finding little brown rats than making people rich. He hasn't even been able to make himself wealthy. These are warning signs and his asking price of fifty dollars for a book that should realistically cost pennies is yet another red flag.
Don't Buy The Book To Save Money
Donahue isn't going anywhere; he's committed to this sales tactic. Even after years have passed, he'll be loudly proclaiming, "My book will change your life. My book will make you who you want to be. Rich! Rich is who you want to be!"
It's totally reasonable to pass up on the offer and save up for a nice outfit. After all, $50 translates to about $100,000 in modern money. Not buying the book is the smartest and most profitable move; players will not be getting that $50 back. Just be prepared to hear his shouting for the rest of the game when in the area of town.
Buy The Book To Get More Character Interaction
After buying the book, Donahue will remark that it is the "best investment you will ever make." No surprise here, it isn't. Buying the book gives players an additional piece of reading as well as some more interactions with Donahue, but they'll be down and out for that $50.
Predictably, Donahue's book promises big things but delivers little. He claims, "Why, you could wipe your backside with fine linens displaying your own your own initials every night and a group of seamstresses would appear in your parlor to work needlepoint until they are bloody in the fingers to fashion another set for the following day." But there are no directions given on how to make this reality come to pass.
Confronting Donahue
After leaving town for a while and coming back, Donahue will still be here trying to sell more copies. Talk to him which will prompt a demand for a refund. He'll recommend the character "follow the 38 steps to wealth" but there are no such 38 steps in the book.
Caught in a lie, Donahue will try to run away. Unlike harming the eugenicist, there are legal ramifications to hurting him. Those who are hoping to get their money back will be disappointed; Donahue has spent all but a couple of bucks already. Still, the revenge is well-deserved on his part.
Red Dead Redemption 2 was released on October 26th, 2018, and is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
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