Steve Haines

Lore & Background

During the events of Grand Theft Auto V, Haines contacts Michael De Santa after he breaks his agreement with the FIB by committing new heists. To undermine the rival International Affairs Agency (IAA), Haines and fellow corrupt agent Dave Norton force Michael to carry out a number of operations alongside Trevor Philips and Franklin Clinton. While operating under the guise of official duty, Haines is instrumental in bringing Devin Weston into their fold; he introduces the trio to the billionaire investor who hires them to steal rare cars. However, this partnership ends with Devin cheating the protagonists out of their money. Later in the narrative, after the trio completes a successful final heist, Trevor realizes that Brad Snider was killed instead of Michael during the 2004 Ludendorff heist due to a setup by Michael and Dave. Although Haines is part of this betrayal, Trevor eventually comes to the aid of both Michael and Dave when they are betrayed by Steve himself.

In Their Own Story

The tension in Los Santos escalated as corrupt Federal Investigation Bureau agents Dave Norton and Steve Haines contacted Michael De Santa after he broke his agreement with them by committing heists again. Rather than arresting him, they forced him to carry out a number of operations alongside Trevor Philips and Franklin Clinton. The specific goal was to undermine the rival International Affairs Agency (IAA). During this period, Steve introduced the trio to Devin Weston, a billionaire investor who hired them to steal a number of rare cars. Despite their efforts, the group ultimately got cheated out of their money by the investor. As the plot progressed toward its climax, Trevor began to suspect that Brad Snider was not in prison and that the 2004 Ludendorff heist had been a setup. Upon finding Brad's body in the grave marked for Michael, Trevor deduced that Michael had made a deal with Dave to fake his death and get rid of him. Feeling betrayed by this arrangement, which involved Steve, Trevor vowed to kill Michael but later came to the aid of both men when they were betrayed by Steve.

Reader's Guide

Steve Haines functions as a narrative catalyst who forces the protagonists into high-stakes criminal activities under the threat of exposure. His primary function is to act as the corrupt handler for Michael De Santa, leveraging his position within the FIB to manipulate events against the rival IAA. Players interact with him during missions where he directs operations involving Franklin Clinton and Trevor Philips. A critical turning point occurs when Haines introduces the group to Devin Weston; players must execute a series of vehicle thefts that end in financial loss due to the investor's betrayal. Later, Haines becomes a liability. Near the game's conclusion, corrupt agent Dave Norton and Steve Haines approach Franklin Clinton separately, contending that Trevor Philips is a threat and asking Franklin to kill him. This ultimatum leads to one of three possible endings: if Franklin chooses to save them both, he must undertake a suicide mission where the trio confronts their enemies, ultimately resolving the conflict initiated by Haines' manipulations.

Did You Know?

• Steve Haines and Dave Norton forced Michael De Santa to commit heists again after he broke his witness protection agreement.
• Haines introduced Michael, Trevor, and Franklin to billionaire Devin Weston, who hired them to steal rare cars but cheated them out of their money.
• Near the end of Grand Theft Auto V, Haines contended that Trevor Philips was a liability and asked Franklin Clinton to kill him.