Markus 'Notch' Alexej Persson is a Swedish game developer, the self-made billionaire Creator of the hit video game Minecraft and Founder of Mojang Studios. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1979, his career is rooted in computer science, software development, and independent game creation.

Persson's philosophical approach centers on creative freedom, simplicity in design, and leveraging community engagement for massive, viral growth. His structural wealth is tied to the phenomenal success of Minecraft, which became one of the best-selling video games of all time.

• Mojang Studios (Founder & Former Owner): The core private asset, the video game company he founded. Sold to Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014.
• Minecraft (Creator): The iconic sandbox video game that achieved global cultural phenomenon status.
• Investment Strategy: His wealth is concentrated in the liquid capital generated from the $2.5 billion sale of Mojang to Microsoft and subsequent private investments.
• Controversy/Privacy: He is known for his outspoken social media use and later expressed discontent with his wealth and extreme privacy concerns post-sale.

Markus Persson's strategic genius was his commitment to simple, open-world gameplay. He began development on Minecraft in 2009. The game's reliance on user-generated content and community feedback drove its exponential growth. The popularity of Minecraft transformed Persson into a central figure in the gaming industry.

The pinnacle of his financial career was the $2.5 billion sale of Mojang Studios to Microsoft in 2014. He subsequently stepped away from the game's development and became a major private investor. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the modern sandbox, creative gaming genre and proving the viability of the indie game developer model at a colossal scale. His wealth is secured by the liquid gains from the Microsoft acquisition.

Markus Persson's social impact is structural, stemming from Minecraft's role in shaping a generation of digital creativity, education (MinecraftEdu), and online community engagement globally. His game is one of the best-selling video games of all time, influencing countless creative industries.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives. His structural contribution is tied to his belief in independent creativity and the power of open-ended game design.

Markus Persson maintains the casual, non-conformist style of a game developer. His attire is typically pragmatic, favoring T-shirts and casual wear. His aesthetic reflects intellectual authority, creativity, and a deliberate rejection of corporate formality.

Residing in Stockholm, Sweden (and traveling globally), his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to creative projects, investment strategy, and privacy.