# What is the best Grand Theft Auto protagonist of all time?

> From silent outlaws in Liberty City to charismatic anti-heroes tearing through Vice City and San Andreas, GTA has given us some of gaming's most unforgettable leads. Who takes the crown?

*By YPB Team · Published June 21, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-grand-theft-auto-protagonist-of-all-time*

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## Current results (3 votes)

1. **CJ (Carl Johnson)** — 66.67% (2 votes · score 1000/1000)
   The beloved protagonist of GTA: San Andreas who returns home to Los Santos and rises from gang life to empire-builder.
2. **Michael De Santa** — 33.33% (1 votes · score 756/1000)
   The retired gangster protagonist of GTA V pulled back into crime, offering a darkly comedic take on midlife crisis.
3. **Lucia** — 0% (0 votes · score 665/1000)
   The female co-lead of GTA VI, the first woman to headline a mainline GTA game, navigating crime in a sprawling Miami-inspired setting.
4. **Johnny Klebitz** — 0% (0 votes · score 665/1000)
   The biker gang leader of GTA IV's DLC The Lost and Damned, offering one of the franchise's most sympathetic anti-hero arcs.
5. **Claude** — 0% (0 votes · score 517/1000)
   The silent, nameless protagonist of GTA III whose wordless rampage through Liberty City launched the 3D era of the franchise.
6. **Tommy Vercetti** — 0% (0 votes · score 517/1000)
   The volatile and charismatic lead of GTA: Vice City who takes over an entire city's criminal empire in 1980s Miami.
7. **Jason Duval** — 0% (0 votes · score 517/1000)
   The male co-lead of GTA VI who partners with Lucia in a Bonnie-and-Clyde style crime saga set in modern-day Vice City.
8. **Huang Lee** — 0% (0 votes · score 423/1000)
   The protagonist of GTA: Chinatown Wars who delivers a stolen jade sword and uncovers a conspiracy in Liberty City.
9. **Niko Bellic** — 0% (0 votes · score 310/1000)
   The war-scarred Eastern European immigrant of GTA IV chasing the American Dream in a gritty, morally complex story.
10. **Franklin Clinton** — 0% (0 votes · score 310/1000)
   The ambitious street racer turned criminal of GTA V who serves as the moral anchor amid his two chaotic partners.
11. **Trevor Philips** — 0% (0 votes · score 172/1000)
   The unhinged and unpredictable wildcard of GTA V who became an instant fan-favorite for his brutal honesty and explosive personality.
12. **Luis Lopez** — 0% (0 votes · score 172/1000)
   The club manager turned freelance criminal of GTA IV's DLC The Ballad of Gay Tony, known for his loyalty and street charm.
13. **Toni Cipriani** — 0% (0 votes · score 172/1000)
   The hot-tempered made man protagonist of GTA: Liberty City Stories who serves as a prequel companion to GTA III's world.

Tags: games, characters, rockstar games, grand theft auto