Steal Ending Explained
Darren Yoshida Is the Real Mastermind
The ending of Steal (2026) reveals that the real mastermind behind the heist is not a shadowy billionaire or a rogue trader, but Darren Yoshida, the calm, helpful financial investigator working with the police the whole time.
Throughout the series, we’re led to believe that the gang of masked thieves, or maybe Milo, is pulling the strings, but the final episode flips that on its head.
Darren secretly hired the thieves, recruited Milo and Luke early, and then deliberately placed himself on the official investigation so he could steer it from the inside and keep everyone, cops, MI5, even the criminals, dancing to his tune.
A Heist About Chaos, Not Just Cash
His goal isn’t just money; it’s chaos with a purpose. Darren wants to expose how the global financial system hides wealth in offshore accounts and tax havens, while ordinary people struggle.
That’s why the stolen £4 billion keeps bouncing through accounts owned by politicians, celebrities, and powerful companies, skimming extra money each time instead of simply vanishing.
When the £4 billion returns to Lochmill Capital, it’s the big clue that this heist isn’t about a payday in the usual sense, it’s about making the system show its ugliness, in public.
At least, that’s his grand speech. The show also makes it clear he’s absolutely willing to get people hurt or killed to make his “moral” point, which undercuts his supposed idealism in a pretty brutal way.
How Zara, Luke, and Milo Got Pulled In
Zara and Luke, meanwhile, turn out not to be innocent victims dropped into the chaos from nowhere. Luke was approached online and brought into the plan first, thinking it would be a targeted digital hack hitting shady corporations, not people’s pensions on a mass scale.
He then convinced Zara to join, especially after she had been passed over for a promotion and felt stuck and undervalued in her job.
That mess, “I am so done with this place. Work frustration is a big part of why she crosses the line. Milo, a more senior employee, is in on it too, hoping for one big payout to retire early.
None of them fully realise how violent and far‑reaching the operation will become until it’s too late.
The Final Showdown at Lochmill
In the final showdown at Lochmill, everything collides: the thieves fighting each other, MI5 storming in, Rhys getting shot, and Zara trying not to die while still hanging onto some sliver of control.
By the end, Zara and Rhys confront Darren at Lochmill and force him to admit what he’s done. He offers them another crypto wallet with £10 million from tax havens in exchange for letting him go, essentially dangling a devil’s bargain: look the other way, take the money, and walk.
Zara refuses, knowing that if they accept it, they’ll be tied to his crimes forever. That “no” is the moral reset the show has been building toward, she started as someone pulled into this by frustration and temptation, and she ends by turning down “easy” dirty money.
Zara’s Secret £20 Million Twist
But Steal doesn’t go for a neat, spotless ending either. The final twist is that Zara has already quietly taken Milo’s £20 million wallet, hidden inside a small desk trophy she packs amongst her things.
That money, unlike the main £4 billion, isn’t directly tied back to Lochmill in the same way, which gives her and Rhys a loophole they can live with. Rhys, who has been drowning in gambling debts, has lost his job and sold his house just to stay alive; Zara has survived a nightmare and burnt her bridges at Lochmill.
Walking out of the building together with that secret wallet, they’re not magically “good people now,” but they’re also not cartoon villains.
They’re damaged, compromised, and weirdly hopeful, two people who’ve been through hell, finally holding a chance at a different life.
An Ambiguous, Human Kind of Ending
I like that the ending doesn’t pretend everything is fully resolved. Darren’s big “change the world” plan is exposed, but whether it actually leads to systemic reform is left open.
Myrtle, the seemingly odd, slightly suspicious junior employee with a connection to Milo, still feels like an unexplored thread.
And Zara’s final choice, refusing Darren’s £10 million but keeping Milo’s £20 million, is morally messy in a way that feels very human.
It’s not the tidy “justice served” ending of a traditional cop thriller; it’s more like: okay, the worst is over, nobody is clean, and now what?
Will There Be A Season 2 of Steal?
As of now, Steal is written to function as a complete story, but it definitely leaves the door cracked open for a potential Season 2.
The main heist is wrapped up, Darren is exposed, the stolen funds are largely accounted for, and Zara and Rhys walk away with their own secret. That’s enough closure for a one‑and‑done thriller.
At the same time, there are plenty of loose ends the show could pull on if it gets renewed. Myrtle feels like a deliberate question mark; she’s there at the start and the end, clearly observant, tied to Milo, and yet never fully brought into the spotlight.
The broader fallout from Darren’s “reveal the system” plan could also be explored: do any of those powerful people whose money got skimmed face consequences, or does everything just quietly get buried?
And of course, Zara and Rhys now effectively have stolen money and no clear plan; a Season 2 could pivot from a heist thriller into a story about living with the aftermath of crime, guilt, and sudden wealth.
If the show does continue, I’d expect it to lean less on the “whodunnit” mystery (since we now know Darren was behind the heist) and more on character-driven fallout: investigations into Myrtle, political pressure, MI5 trying to keep things quiet, and Zara trying to decide what kind of person she wants to be with £20 million quietly burning a hole in her future.
It’s the kind of ending that feels satisfying on its own but still leaves you thinking, “Yeah… I’d watch another six episodes of this.”
Steal Cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Zara Dunne | Sophie Turner |
| Luke Selborn | Archie Madekwe |
| DCI Rhys Covac | Jacob Fortune‑Lloyd |
| Darren Yoshida | Andrew Koji |
| Milo Carter Walsh | Harry Michell |
| Morgan | (robbery crew member; supporting role) |
| Myrtle | (junior employee at Lochmill; supporting role) |
This isn’t every single face in the show, but it covers the core people the ending really turns on. The dynamic between Zara, Luke, Rhys, and Darren is what gives the finale its bite: betrayal layered on betrayal, with everyone carrying their own version of desperation.
How Many Episodes of Steal Are on Prime?
Steal’s first season runs for six episodes on Prime Video, which is just enough time to set up the robbery, dig into everyone’s secrets, and land all the twists without completely dragging things out.
Six episodes also make it very bingeable, the kind of show you tell yourself you’ll watch “just two tonight” and then suddenly it’s past midnight, and you’re clutching a cushion during the final shootout.
Each episode peels back another layer: the initial office takeover, the revelation that Luke and Zara aren’t as innocent as they seemed, Milo’s deeper involvement, Rhys’s gambling problem, and finally Darren’s true plan.
By the time you hit the finale, the web is complicated, but the show does bring the main pieces together in a way that makes sense once you see how Darren has been manipulating everyone from behind the scenes.
And if you finish all six and still feel like some parts, especially Myrtle, or the long-term impact of Darren’s scheme, were left hanging, that’s almost by design. Steal wants you to sit with the unease a bit, not just tick every box and move on.
Disclaimer:
This article contains detailed plot discussion and ending analysis for Steal (2026) and may include major spoilers. All information is based on publicly available episodes, promotional materials, and viewer interpretation at the time of writing. This content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Prime Video, the show’s creators, or its production partners. Release details, cast information, and future season plans are subject to change.
