Minecraft Founder Lists Beverly Hills Mansion for Original 2014 Price Amid Luxury Market Cooling

Key points

• Persson is asking $70 million for the home, matching his 2014 purchase price despite significant renovations.
• The estate features eight bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, two pools, a private nightclub, and a recording studio.
• Listing agents attribute the sale to Persson spending less time in Los Angeles, not financial pressure.
• The listing coincides with other tech billionaires moving to Florida to avoid California’s proposed wealth tax.
• The property was originally built by Bruce Makowsky and includes amenities like a $200,000 candy room.

Background

Persson sold his company Mojang to Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014, shortly before purchasing the mansion. The property had previously been sought by Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Recent archive coverage highlights a broader trend of ultrawealthy buyers demolishing mansions for prime land and federal raids on other Beverly Hills estates, but those events are unrelated to this specific transaction.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Post and Los Angeles Times frame the sale within the context of a broader exodus of tech billionaires from California due to a proposed wealth tax, citing moves by Mark Zuckerberg and Google co-founders. However, listing agent Aaron Kirman, cited by both outlets, emphasizes that Persson is selling because he no longer spends much time in Los Angeles, not due to tax concerns. Celebrity Net Worth highlights the financial stagnation of the investment, noting that Persson previously claimed the home gained $10 million in value within weeks of purchase, yet he is now asking for the original price despite inflation and upgrade costs. The LA Times notes that while the median LA home value has doubled, this specific luxury listing shows zero appreciation, reflecting a cooled market for speculative high-end homes.

Why it matters

The listing signals a shift in the ultra-luxury real estate market, where even record-breaking properties are struggling to gain value. It also illustrates the changing dynamics of tech wealth, with billionaires increasingly prioritizing tax advantages and lifestyle convenience over holding high-maintenance California estates.

What to watch

The property is currently on the market with Christie’s International Real Estate and Beverly Hills Estates. A sale at the asking price would be the priciest in Beverly Hills this year, though it would not cover the costs of upgrades and maintenance. The outcome will depend on finding a buyer willing to pay $70 million in a slowed luxury market.