Markus Alexej Persson, commonly known as “Notch”, is a Swedish programmer and video game designer who has left an indelible mark on the gaming industry.
He is widely recognized as the creator of the phenomenally successful video game Minecraft, which has become the best-selling video game in history since its release.
Persson’s journey in the video game industry began with his early experiments and programming projects.
In 2009, he founded the video game development company Mojang Studios, which would become the driving force behind the creation and development of Minecraft.
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- Full name: Markus Alexej Persson
- Stage name: Notch
- Date of birth: June 1, 1979
- Age: 45 years old
- Place of birth: Stockholm, Sweden
- Nationality: Swedish
- Occupation: Swedish programmer and video game designer
- Height: 1.75 m
- Parents: Ritva Persson and Birger Persson
- Siblings: 1
- Spouse: Elin Zetterstrand (m. 2011–2012)
- Children: Minna Almina Zelda Zetterstrand
- Relationship: Single
- Net worth: 1.3 billion USD
Early life and education
Markus Alexej Persson is a Swedish programmer and video game designer born in Stockholm, Sweden, on June 1, 1979. He was born to his parents, Ritva Persson and Birger Persson.
Persson grew up in Edsbyn until his family moved back to Stockholm when he was seven. In Edsbyn, his father worked for the railways, and his mother was a nurse. Persson has an older sister, although her name is unknown.
When Persson was seven, his parents divorced, and he and his sister lived with their mother. By 1994, Persson knew he wanted to become a video game developer, but his teachers advised him to study graphic design, which he did from age 15 to 18.
As of 2014, Persson has reverse-engineered the Doom engine, which he is very proud of. Although he did not finish high school, he was said to be a good student. His ethnicity is Swedish and he is a Christian.
Career
Markus “Notch” Persson became interested in computers at a young age. He taught himself programming and started creating his own games.
After dropping out of high school, Persson pursued a career in web development and gained valuable experience in the field. In 2009, Persson began work on a game inspired by the concept of building with blocks.
This project eventually became Minecraft, a sandbox game that allows players to explore a procedurally generated world, mine resources, and build anything they can imagine. Minecraft quickly gained a devoted following and became a cultural phenomenon.
Persson founded Mojang AB, the company behind Minecraft. As the game’s popularity skyrocketed, so did Mojang’s value. In 2014, Microsoft acquired Mojang and Minecraft for $2.5 billion, making Persson an instant billionaire.
After selling Mojang, Persson continued to pursue a variety of projects. He has invested in startups, created a new game studio, and expressed interest in exploring virtual reality gaming.
Persson has also spoken out about his experiences with fame and wealth, discussing the challenges and benefits of being a public figure.
In 2015, he co-founded a separate game studio called Rubberbrain, relaunching in 2024 as Bitshift Entertainment.
Persson’s journey from bedroom programmer to billionaire entrepreneur is a remarkable story of innovation, hard work and the power of a good idea.
His creation of Minecraft left a lasting impact on the gaming industry and continues to inspire countless players worldwide.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @notite
- Facebook handling:
- Twitter name: @not_update
Personal life
Markus “Notch” Persson, creator of the popular video game Minecraft, was previously married to Elin Zetterstrand.
The two got married in 2011 after dating for 4 years. Zetterstrand used to be a Minecraft forum moderator.
In 2011, Persson and Zetterstrand had a daughter named Minna Almina Zelda Zetterstrand. However, by mid-2012, Persson began to see less of his daughter.
On August 15, 2012, Persson announced that he and his wife had filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized later that year.
Since their divorce, Persson’s current relationship status has not been publicly disclosed. He appears to be single but hasn’t officially announced his romantic life since his split from Elin Zetterstrand.
Net worth
Markus “Notch” Persson, a Swedish programmer and video game designer, is estimated to have a net worth of $1.3 billion.
This considerable wealth is mainly due to the phenomenal success of Minecraft, the video game he created.
In 2014, Persson sold Minecraft to Microsoft for a staggering $2.5 billion, adding significantly to his massive net worth.
