Markus Persson

Markus "Notch" Persson started Minecraft as a hobby project, releasing the title with lego-like graphics on indie game forums while working at Candy Crush maker King Entertainment. When the game gained immediate popularity, Persson left King and eventually formed Mojang in 2010 with friend Jakob Porser. The company sold 1 million copies of Minecraft by January 2011. Today, the game is the most-downloaded computer game of all time, and has sold more than 100 million copies across platforms including PC, iOS, Android, Xbox and PlayStation. In September 2014, Microsoft purchased the Stockholm-based company for $2.5 billion, as Persson, who held a 71% stake, wanted a "clean break" from the pressure of overseeing Mojang. Known online by the nickname "Notch," Persson has criticized corporations like Electronic Arts and Facebook, garnering two million Twitter followers and celebrity status for his candid opinions. The son of a nurse and a railroad worker, he grew up relatively poor. Today he is enjoying life and purchased a $70 million mansion in Los Angeles, the most expensive home ever sold in Beverly Hills.