Markus "Notch" Persson's net worth is estimated to be around $1.6 billion as of 2026, primarily stemming from the sale of his game Minecraft to Microsoft in 2014.
Why did Notch become so wealthy?
Markus "Notch" Persson struck it rich because he sold Minecraft—his wildly successful game—to Microsoft back in September 2014.
That $2.5 billion cash deal made him an overnight billionaire. By the time of the sale, Minecraft had already sold over 15 million copies across different platforms, proving it was a global phenomenon. Forbes called it one of the biggest acquisitions in gaming history.
Is Notch still loaded?
Absolutely, Notch is still worth roughly $1.6 billion as of 2026.
That fortune comes from the massive payout he got when Microsoft bought Mojang Studios and Minecraft’s intellectual property. Even though he stepped away from game development years ago, his bank account hasn’t taken a hit—he’s still one of the top notch richest people in tech and gaming, based on financial reports from Celebrity Net Worth.
Where does Notch’s money come from these days?
Notch’s net worth sits at about $1.6 billion as of 2026, and it’s all from the Minecraft sale—he doesn’t earn a regular paycheck anymore.
| Net Worth | Born | Birth Date | Source of Wealth | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1.6 Billion | Stockholm | June 1, 1979 | Video Game Programmer And Designer | Sweden |
He’s not actively developing Minecraft anymore, but his wealth is so massive he can chase whatever interests him without worrying about a salary. That number reflects his total assets and investments, not yearly earnings.
How old is Notch right now?
Notch is 47 years old as of 2026, born on June 1, 1979.
That puts him in the sweet spot—young enough to have built an empire early, old enough to know what to do with it. His journey from indie dev to billionaire is pretty much the rags-to-riches story gaming needed.
What’s Notch done with all that cash?
Markus "Notch" Persson made his fortune by selling Mojang Studios and Minecraft to Microsoft for $2.5 billion in September 2014.
After the deal, he dropped $70 million on a Beverly Hills mansion—yes, the one that beat out Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s offer. He’s kept most of his financial moves private, but he’s definitely living large and dabbling in other projects. The Hollywood Reporter has covered the details.
Is Jeb still kicking?
Yep, Jens "Jeb" Bergensten is alive and well, still a major player in game development.
He stepped up as Minecraft’s lead designer after Notch left Mojang. Jeb’s been key to keeping the game fresh and popular, showing up at events and chatting with the community. The Minecraft Wiki keeps tabs on his work.
| Jens Bergensten | Children |
|---|---|
| 1 |
What’s Notch’s real name?
Notch’s real name is Markus Alexej Persson.
Born June 1, 1979, in Stockholm, Sweden, he went by "Notch" early on and it stuck. He’s best known for creating Minecraft and founding Mojang Studios, as you can read on his Wikipedia page.
| Born | Other names | Occupation | Known for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markus Persson | Markus Alexej Persson 1 June 1979 Stockholm, Sweden | Notch | Video game programmer and designer | Creating Minecraft, founding Mojang |
How much is Minecraft worth today?
Minecraft’s value isn’t set in stone, but it was estimated at over $1.7 billion back in 2021, and it’s only gone up since then.
That worth comes from sales across every platform, merch, licensing deals, and its massive player base. Microsoft’s $2.5 billion purchase in 2014 proved how valuable it was—and ongoing updates and expansions have only made it more so, according to industry analysts.
Who’s in charge of Minecraft now?
Microsoft owns Minecraft now, after snagging Mojang Studios and the game’s IP for $2.5 billion in September 2014.
Since then, Microsoft has pushed Minecraft everywhere—new platforms, fresh features, even an educational version for schools. That move locked in Microsoft’s gaming dominance and kept Minecraft evolving under a tech giant’s umbrella. Microsoft News broke the story.
Did Notch really create Herobrine?
Nope—Herobrine started as a creepypasta, an internet ghost story, inside the Minecraft community.
The myth spun around a pale figure with glowing white eyes, looking like Minecraft’s default skin but… off. Notch leaned into the joke by adding "Removed Herobrine" to patch notes, a playful nod to some code tweaks. It was all in good fun during the meme’s peak, as the Minecraft Wiki explains.
Who’s Agnes Larsson?
Agnes 'LadyAgnes' Larsson is a key Mojang Studios employee who’s shaped Minecraft’s development, now serving as the Minecraft Vanilla Game Director since March 2021.
She jumped into gameplay development for the 'Exploration Update' back in August 2016 and climbed the ladder fast. Her work keeps Minecraft’s core experience exciting for millions of players, steering how the game evolves at its foundation.
Who’s married to Jeb?
Jens "Jeb" Bergensten is married to Jenny Bergensten (née Thornell).
They tied the knot on May 11, 2013, and had a son, Björn, on December 10, 2015. Jeb occasionally shares glimpses of family life on social media, giving fans a peek behind the dev’s curtain.
Where’s Jeb from?
Jens Bergensten hails from Örebro, Sweden.
He’s a proud Swede, though he spent most of his career at Mojang in Stockholm. It’s a small world—many of Minecraft’s original team, including Notch, are from Sweden too. Perhaps they've enjoyed hiking in a place like the Pali Notches or considered camping in Franconia Notch State Park.
