Minecraft Creator Markus Persson Asks $70 Million for Beverly Hills Mansion

Markus Persson, the Swedish billionaire behind the video game Minecraft, has listed his Beverly Hills mega-mansion for $70 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. This asking price is notable as it is the exact amount Persson paid for the property in 2014.

The 22,300-square-foot estate sits on one acre with views overlooking Los Angeles. It features eight bedrooms and 15 bathrooms, an elevator, a movie theater, and a swimming pool. Persson also added a recording studio and a private nightclub with a DJ booth during his ownership.

Originally developed by Bruce Makowsky, the home came packed with amenities, including a $200,000 candy room, a 2,500-bottle wine cellar stocked with Dom Perignon, and an art installation featuring a chrome machine gun. Listing agent Aaron Kirman noted that ultra-luxury buyers seek properties that offer unique features and cannot be easily replicated.

The $70 million price tag is ambitious for Los Angeles' current luxury market. While the median home value in LA has more than doubled over the past 12 years, Persson's listing reflects a 0% increase from his purchase price. If it sells at this price, it would be the priciest home sale in Beverly Hills this year and the second-priciest in LA County, behind the $130 million sale of Casa Encantada in Bel-Air to Peter Thiel.

Persson, known as "Notch" in the gaming community, sold Mojang Studios, the company behind Minecraft, to Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014. He is reportedly selling the property because he no longer spends much time in Los Angeles. Before Persson bought the home, Jay-Z and Beyoncé reportedly toured the property multiple times.

This listing shows how much the ultra-luxury market has changed in a decade, even as the broader LA housing market has soared.