Jimmy De Santa, formerly James Townley, is the son of Michael and Amanda De Santa and a supporting character in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
James "Jimmy" De Santa, formerly James Townley, is the son of Michael and Amanda De Santa and the younger brother of Tracey De Santa. In Grand Theft Auto V, he is one of the most prominent members of Michael’s family and plays a major role in the De Santa family storyline.
Jimmy was born around 1993 while his family still lived under the Townley name. After Michael faked his death in 2004, Jimmy moved with his family to Los Santos under the De Santa identity. By 2013, his relationship with Michael is deeply strained due to Jimmy’s laziness, drug use, video game addiction and resentment toward his father.
During Grand Theft Auto V, Jimmy repeatedly causes trouble for Michael, including buying a BeeJay XL from Simeon Yetarian’s dealership, trying to sell Michael’s yacht and later drugging his father before stealing his car. Despite their damaged relationship, Jimmy eventually helps reunite the De Santa family and saves Michael during the Merryweather attack on their home.
In Grand Theft Auto Online, Jimmy appears in The Diamond Casino Heist update as an employee at the GTA Online Protagonist’s arcade. Lester Crest helps him get the job, though Jimmy is disappointed that the work involves a retro arcade rather than esports. By 2025, Michael and Amanda mention that Jimmy is finally moving out.
Jimmy is lazy, insecure, immature and heavily absorbed in video games and internet culture. Early in GTA V, he blames Michael for many of his own failures, but later begins to mature, reconnect with his family and look for work.
In Grand Theft Auto V, Jimmy is an overweight young man with red hair and a casual streetwear style. In Grand Theft Auto Online, he appears older with longer strawberry blond hair and wears a black Güffy hoodie, sunglasses and a hat while working at the arcade.
Michael De Santa is Jimmy’s father. Their relationship is strained throughout much of GTA V but improves after the family reunites.
Franklin Clinton helps rescue Jimmy during Father/Son and remains generally civil with the De Santa family.
Trevor Philips is treated by Jimmy as Uncle T and has known the De Santa family since before Michael faked his death.
Lester Crest helps Jimmy get work at the GTA Online Protagonist’s arcade during The Diamond Casino Heist update.
Jimmy buys a canary yellow BeeJay XL from Simeon Yetarian’s dealership before it is repossessed by Franklin Clinton.
Jimmy steals Michael’s black Tailgater after drugging him during Did Somebody Say Yoga?.
“Mom was right about you. You do not know any better and you cannot help it, but you are an asshole.”
“You will thank me for anesthetizing you one day.”
“You do bad stuff and things, and I do not know if I love you and I am pretty sure I hate you a little bit.”
“Should I put my K/D ratio on my résumé?”