Markus Persson, Minecraft's creator better known by his nickname Notch, has listed his residence in the prestigious Trousdale Estates neighborhood of Beverly Hills for sale at $70 million. That's the exact same amount Persson paid for the property in December 2014, shortly after selling Mojang Studios to Microsoft for $2.5 billion.

The house that broke Beverly Hills records

The 2014 purchase was record-setting for Beverly Hills at the time. Persson outbid Beyoncé and Jay-Z, snatching away the property they had their eyes on along the street known as "Billionaires' Row." The residence spans 22,300 square feet (over 2,000 square meters), with 8 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms.

Amenities include a wine cellar that can hold 2,500 bottles, a candy room, a private recording studio, and a nightclub with its own DJ booth and dance floor. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide views of downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific, which, given the hillside location in Trousdale Estates, is one of the main selling points.

Twelve years without frequent visits

Persson rarely visited the residence over the past twelve years, living mostly outside Los Angeles. The listing agent, Aaron Kirman, told the media that Minecraft's creator "simply spends little time in Los Angeles and is committed to selling." That statement suggests the decision isn't driven by a sudden need for cash, but rather by a rational management of an asset that has sat mostly unused for years.

Speculation has circulated on social media that the timing of the sale might be connected to a proposed one-time 5% tax in California targeting the state's wealthiest residents. However, there's no confirmation of this theory from Persson himself or his representatives.

A cooled-off luxury real estate market

Pricing the home at exactly the same amount it was bought for twelve years earlier is unusual in the premium real estate market, where most owners expect significant appreciation. The median home price in Los Angeles has more than doubled since 2014, but the ultra-luxury property market has clearly cooled in recent years, which may explain why the price was set at the original purchase level rather than with a premium.

Persson's property ranks among the most expensive homes listed for sale in Los Angeles County this year, putting it in a league with listings owned by other tech and entertainment stars.

What this story says about Minecraft's legacy

Persson sold Mojang and the rights to Minecraft to Microsoft in 2014, withdrawing from active involvement in the development of the game he created ever since. Even though he hasn't had any formal influence on decisions about subsequent versions of the game for years, his personal fortune and financial decisions still regularly make headlines on lifestyle and industry sites, showing just how large a cultural footprint the sale of the studio behind one of the most popular games in history has left.

For players building their own worlds in Java Edition or on servers, this story is a reminder of the scale the brand has reached, a brand started by a Swedish programmer who wrote the game's first versions on his own back in 2009.

What happens next with the sale

For now, the property remains on the market, and its final sale price will depend on whether a buyer is willing to pay the full historical sum under today's cooler market conditions. Industry real estate outlets are watching this transaction as one of the tests of the health of the ultra-luxury segment in Los Angeles.

Sources