### Quick Answer
> Yes, you can save both Michael De Santa and Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto 5 by selecting Option C ("Deathwish") when Devin Weston confronts Franklin. Option C keeps all three protagonists alive, unlocking full post-game character switching, side missions, and maximum heist payouts across San Andreas.
| Ending Choice | Mission Name | Surviving Protagonists | Financial Impact | Canon Status |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Option A** | *Something Sensible* | Franklin Clinton, Michael De Santa | Trevor's heist cut ($20M+) split between Michael & Franklin | Non-Canon |
| **Option B** | *The Time's Come* | Franklin Clinton, Trevor Philips | Michael's heist cut ($20M+) wired directly to his family | Non-Canon |
| **Option C** | *Deathwish / The Third Way* | Franklin, Michael, Trevor | All three keep 100% of their final heist earnings ($28M–$41M each) | **Official Canon** |
#### How Option C Works in 4 Steps
1. **Answer the Door**: Control Franklin when billionaire investor Devin Weston enters your Vinewood Hills house after completing "The Big Score."
2. **Select Option C**: Open Franklin's smartphone menu and click **Option C: Deathwish** at the bottom of the selection list.
3. **Unite the Crew**: Drive to Lester Crest's factory to build a counter-attack plan against the FIB and Merryweather Security at the Murrieta Heights Foundry.
4. **Eliminate All Enemies**: Divide and conquer by systematically assassinating Stretch, Steve Haines, Wei Cheng, and executing Devin Weston at Paleto Cove.
*Choosing Option C requires total mastery over all three protagonists' special combat abilities inside the Murrieta Heights Foundry.*
---
## The Canonical Superiority of Option C: Why "Deathwish" Is the Definitive Ending
Selecting **Option C** (labeled "Deathwish" on Franklin’s iFruit phone interface, opening the mission *The Third Way*) stands as the single canonical narrative path crafted by Rockstar Games. Players who choose Option C preserve the entire playable roster of *Grand Theft Auto V*, ensuring that Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips, and Franklin Clinton survive the chaotic crossfire between the FIB, Merryweather Security, the Los Santos Triads, and corrupt venture capitalists.
When Rockstar Games launched *Grand Theft Auto V* in September 2013 on PS3 and Xbox 360—and subsequently re-released it across PS4, Xbox One, PC, and native PS5 / Xbox Series X|S editions ($69.99 / £69.99)—players grappled with the moral weight of Franklin’s forced choice. Contracted by corrupt FIB Agent Steve Haines to assassinate Trevor in **Option A**, or blackmailed by billionaire vulture capitalist Devin Weston to eliminate Michael in **Option B**, Franklin appears trapped in a classic Los Santos power squeeze.
Choosing Option C breaks this cycle of betrayal. Franklin rejects the orders of corrupt federal handlers and predatory billionaires alike. He contacts Lester Crest, hatches an ambush inside an abandoned smelting foundry, and calls upon Michael and Trevor to fight side by side one last time.
> [PRO-GAMER TACTICAL HACK]: Never complete Lester’s stock market assassination missions (*The Hotel Assassination*, *The Multi Target Assassination*, *The Vice Assassination*, *The Bus Assassination*, and *The Construction Assassination*) during the main story campaign. Complete only the mandatory *Hotel Assassination* required to progress the campaign. Save the remaining four assassinations until AFTER completing Option C. With each character holding their ~$30 million *Big Score* payout, strategic stock investments across the LCN and BAWSAQ exchanges will scale each protagonist's personal bank account beyond **$2.1 Billion** ($2,147,483,647 max engine cap).
Beyond narrative resolution, Rockstar Games has repeatedly confirmed Option C as official canon through subsequent title updates in *GTA Online*. In *The Contract* narrative expansion (released late 2021), players visit Franklin Clinton’s F. Clinton & Partner agency. During a mission pass through the Solomon Richards film lot at Richards Majestic Studio, Franklin explicitly mentions that a friend of his (Michael) works there as a senior movie producer.
Furthermore, dialogues throughout *GTA Online*’s *Series A Funding* heist and *Smuggler's Run* hangar updates confirm Trevor Philips remains alive, active, and causing chaos in Sandy Shores and Vinewood.
---
## Detailed Breakdown of Option A: "Something Sensible" (Kill Trevor)
If you select **Option A**, Franklin decides that Trevor Philips is too unpredictable, unstable, and dangerous to keep alive. Franklin phones Trevor under the pretense of meeting in El Burro Heights to clear the air, while secretly informing Michael of his plan.
*Option A forces Franklin into a high-speed chase ending in an explosive execution at the Murrieta Oil Field.*
### The Chase and Execution
1. Franklin meets Trevor in El Burro Heights. During the cutscene, Franklin draws a pistol on Trevor, who expresses deep betrayal before speeding off in his Bodhi truck.
2. A high-speed pursuit breaks out down the Del Perro Freeway, heading toward the Murrieta Oil Field.
3. As Trevor navigates through the oil derricks, Michael De Santa arrives in an Albany Emperor, broadsiding Trevor’s truck and sending him crashing headfirst into an oil tanker.
4. Fuel leaks over the ground, soaking a battered and trapped Trevor.
5. Franklin can choose to pull the trigger on the oil slick, or wait several seconds until Michael shoots it himself. The fuel ignites instantly, burning Trevor to death in a fiery explosion before the tank detonates.
### Mechanical and Economic Consequences of Option A
* **Permanent Elimination**: Trevor Philips is permanently deleted from your saved file. You can no longer switch to Trevor, play his Strangers and Freaks side missions, or drive his unique vehicles.
* **Property Loss**: Any unpurchased Blaine County properties or strip club ownership privileges tied strictly to Trevor become unavailable or lose unique gameplay elements.
* **Financial Redistribution**: Trevor’s full cut from *The Big Score* (roughly $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 depending on your hired crew choices) gets split 50/50 between Franklin and Michael.
* **Character Dynamics**: Michael remains available as a playable character, but his relationship with Franklin becomes strained. Michael expresses deep guilt over Trevor's death, frequently deflecting calls and expressing paranoia regarding Franklin's loyalty.
---
## Detailed Breakdown of Option B: "The Time's Come" (Kill Michael)
Selecting **Option B** puts Franklin in the crosshairs of Devin Weston, who insists that Michael De Santa is a liability whose survival threatens Weston's corporate empire. Franklin sets up a late-night rendezvous with Michael under the freeway overpass in East Los Santos.
### The Pursuit at Palmer-Taylor Power Station
1. Michael receives a call from his wife Amanda right before meeting Franklin, learning that his daughter Tracey is attending college and his family life has finally stabilized.
2. Upon confronting Franklin, Michael realizes he has been set up. He flees in his Tailgater, driving toward the industrial exhaust towers of the Palmer-Taylor Power Station.
3. Franklin pursues Michael up the narrow exterior catwalks and metal ladders of the facility.
4. At the top of the highest tower, a struggle ensues. Michael lands hits on Franklin before being pushed over the guardrail. Franklin grabs Michael’s hand as he dangles over the drop.
5. The player is presented with two choices: **Drop Michael** or **Try to Save Him**.
6. If you choose to pull Michael up, Michael headbutts Franklin in a fit of rage and betrayal, causing him to lose his grip and plunge to his death anyway. Michael’s death is hardcoded into Option B.
> [ROOKIE MISTAKE TO AVOID]: Do not assume selecting Option B allows you to save Michael at the last second by picking the "Save" prompt on the catwalk. Rockstar designed Option B so that Michael dies regardless of your final choice. Attempting to pull him up results in Michael forcing his own fall. If you want Michael to survive, you **MUST** select Option C ("Deathwish") on Franklin's phone.
### Mechanical and Economic Consequences of Option B
* **Permanent Elimination**: Michael De Santa is permanently erased from your safe file. All unique cinema properties (Cinema Doppler, Ten Cent Theater, Tivoli Cinema) lose their character-specific income routes and management events.
* **Trevor’s Reaction**: Trevor refuses to participate in Michael's execution. When Franklin contacts Trevor after the incident, Trevor aggressively cuts ties with Franklin, branding him a traitor and snake. Trevor will refuse to hang out with Franklin for the remainder of the playthrough.
* **Financial Penalty**: Michael’s share of *The Big Score* is **not** split between Franklin and Trevor. Instead, Lester wires Michael's full cut directly to Amanda, Jimmy, and Tracey De Santa to secure their financial future, leaving Franklin with zero additional bonus cash.
---
## Deep Dive: Option C ("The Third Way") Mission Architecture
When Franklin selects **Option C**, he rejects both hit requests and heads directly to Lester Crest’s house in El Burro Heights. Lester devises an ambitious plan: lure both Merryweather Security and the FIB forces to the Murrieta Heights Metal Foundry under the pretense of melting down the gold bullion stolen during *The Big Score*.
*Option C unites the trio across Los Santos, clearing all corporate and federal debts before the crew disbands.*
### Phase 1: The Murrieta Heights Foundry Shootout
The foundry battle tests your ability to rapidly swap between all three characters under high-pressure cover-shooter conditions:
* **Franklin’s Position**: Stationed on the ground floor, managing close-quarters engagements against heavily armored FIB tactical squads breaking through the main loading bays.
* **Michael’s Position**: Positioned on the elevated gantries, using his bullet-time Special Ability (*Area Clear*) to pop high-value targets entering from upper walkways.
* **Trevor’s Position**: Positioned on the exterior catwalks, wielding heavy ordnance (RPG, Grenade Launcher, Minigun) combined with his invulnerability Special Ability (*Red Mist*) to destroy Merryweather Buzzard attack helicopters.
During the battle, Lamar Davis calls for backup on the exterior perimeter. You must control Franklin to clear out Merryweather squads outside, then switch to Michael to rescue Trevor, who gets pinned down by sniper fire near the melting vats.
### Phase 2: Systematically Eradicating the Crew's Enemies
Once the foundry is cleared of FIB and Merryweather agents, the trio divides four hit targets across San Andreas to permanently remove all threats against them:
#### 1. Michael Eliminates Stretch (Harold Joseph)
* **Location**: BJ Smith Recreation Center in Chamberlain Hills.
* **Tactical Execution**: Stretch is surrounded by CGF Ballas gang members on the basketball courts. Michael must pull up, deploy sticky bombs or a combat MG, and liquidate Stretch before his gang reinforcements swarm the area.
#### 2. Trevor Assassinates Steve Haines
* **Location**: Del Perro Pier Ferris Wheel.
* **Tactical Execution**: Agent Steve Haines is filming an episode of his shock-cop reality TV show *Underbelly Paradise* inside a Ferris wheel cabin. Trevor positions himself on the nearby boardwalk with a suppressed Heavy Sniper. A single headshot drops Haines mid-broadcast. Trevor then triggers a 3-star wanted level escape across the Pacific Ocean coastline.
#### 3. Franklin Eliminates Wei Cheng
* **Location**: Pacific Bluffs Resort / Chumash Hotel.
* **Tactical Execution**: Wei Cheng and his Los Santos Triad convoy are preparing to leave the hotel garage. Franklin arrives in a high-speed vehicle, launches sticky bombs at Cheng’s armored Albany Cognoscenti, or uses a rocket launcher to blow up the entire motorcade before Cheng reaches the Western Highway.
#### 4. Trevor Kidnaps Devin Weston
* **Location**: Devin Weston’s Fortified Mansion in Tongva Hills.
* **Tactical Execution**: Trevor infiltrates Weston’s estate, bypassing or killing dozens of Merryweather contractors patrolling the infinity pool and tennis courts. Trevor finds Weston hiding inside a poolside cabana, knocks him unconscious, slips him into the trunk of Weston's own $1 million Cognoscenti, and drives out past security forces.
```
[DEVIN WESTON'S TONGVA HILLS MANSION]
│
▼ (Trevor infiltrates & kidnaps Weston)
[DRIVE TO PALETO COVE CLIFFTOPS]
│
▼ (Michael & Franklin rendezvous)
[THE FINAL CONFRONTATION AT THE CLIFF]
│
▼ (Push Dubsta 6x6 into the Pacific Ocean)
[OPTION C COMPLETE: ALL SURVIVE]
```
### Phase 3: Paleto Cove Sunset Execution
Trevor drives the trunk containing Devin Weston to the desolate clifftops of Paleto Cove, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Michael and Franklin arrive shortly after.
In an iconic final cinematic sequence, the three protagonists mock Weston’s corporate jargon and ruthless greed. They push Weston