Markus “Notch” Persson, the billionaire Minecraft creator, has officially listed his landmark Beverly Hills mansion for $70 million. The listing, updated in late October 2026, marks a rare instance of a high-profile “frozen” price tag in the ultra-luxury real estate sector, as Persson is seeking the exact amount he paid for the property 12 years ago.
The estate, located at 1181 North Hillcrest Road in the exclusive Trousdale Estates neighborhood, gained international attention in December 2014 when Persson reportedly outbid music icons Beyoncé and Jay-Z to secure the home. While the median value of Los Angeles real estate has more than doubled in the intervening decade, the Swedish programmer is opting to walk away at his original purchase price.
The roughly 22,300-square-foot residence remains one of the most recognizable “mega-mansions” in Southern California. The property features 8 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms, characterized by automated curved glass walls that provide panoramic views of the Los Angeles basin and the Pacific Ocean. During his tenure, Persson added several bespoke amenities to the Beverly Hills estate, including a professional-grade recording studio and a private nightclub. These additions sit alongside the home’s original signature features, such as a $200,000 “candy room.”
Real estate experts note that the decision to list at $70 million reflects a complex luxury market. Despite the extensive upgrades and the passage of time, several factors may be influencing the break-even strategy. Listing agent Aaron Kirman of Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California stated that Persson is moving on simply because he no longer spends significant time in Los Angeles.
The timing of the sale also coincides with shifting political and economic pressures in California. The listing arrived just ahead of the November 2026 ballot, which includes Proposition 40, a proposed 5% wealth tax on billionaires. Analysts suggest that such legislative shifts, combined with a cooling period for L.A.’s highest-end properties, may be prompting some ultra-high-net-worth individuals to liquidate their local holdings.
Persson has largely kept a low profile in recent years, with this listing serving as one of his most significant public financial moves since the original acquisition of the Trousdale landmark.
