A private nightclub, multimillion-dollar recording studio and sweeping Los Angeles views distinguish the Trousdale Estates property, which is returning to the market at the same price its owner paid in 2014.
The Beverly Hills mansion of Markus Persson, the Swedish entrepreneur who created the global video game phenomenon Minecraft, has returned to the luxury real estate market with an asking price of $70 million. Set high above Los Angeles in the prestigious Trousdale Estates neighborhood, the contemporary residence offers 22,300 square feet of living space, eight bedrooms and 15 bathrooms, together with a collection of entertainment amenities that reflects an unusually personal approach to luxury living.
The asking price is particularly noteworthy. Persson, widely known as Notch, acquired the newly completed estate in December 2014 for $70 million, following the sale of Mojang, the company behind Minecraft, to Microsoft for approximately $2.5 billion. Twelve years later, he is seeking the same nominal price, despite having introduced substantial improvements during his ownership.
The property, located at 1181 N. Hillcrest Road, occupies approximately 0.96 acres and commands expansive views extending across the Los Angeles basin toward the Pacific Ocean. Developed by luxury real estate entrepreneur Bruce Makowsky, the estate was conceived as an extravagant contemporary residence designed to combine architectural spectacle with an extensive collection of lifestyle amenities.
A $70 Million Beverly Hills Estate With an Unusual History
The story of 1181 N. Hillcrest Road began well before Persson became its owner. Public property records indicate that the underlying property changed hands for $1.05 million in 1986 and subsequently sold for approximately $12.65 million in August 2012. The current residence was completed in 2014, with Makowsky overseeing its development as a speculative luxury home.
The mansion initially entered the market in September 2014 with an asking price of $85 million. Persson ultimately acquired it for $70 million, establishing one of the headline-making residential transactions in Beverly Hills that year. Contemporary reports noted that Beyoncé and Jay-Z had also shown considerable interest in the property before Persson secured the purchase.
At the time, the transaction attracted international attention not only because of its price but also because of the buyer’s extraordinary success in the technology industry. Having sold Mojang to Microsoft, Persson entered the ranks of the world’s wealthiest video game entrepreneurs, and the Beverly Hills purchase became one of the most visible expressions of his newly acquired fortune.
The 2026 listing brings the property’s financial history into focus. Although its asking price matches the 2014 purchase price, this does not necessarily mean that the owner will break even after accounting for improvements, maintenance, taxes and the costs associated with owning such an expansive residence.
Architecture Designed Around the Los Angeles Skyline
Positioned on an elevated parcel in Trousdale Estates, the residence makes extensive use of glass, stone and contemporary architectural detailing. Its orientation takes advantage of the hillside setting, allowing the main living spaces to capture broad views of the city, surrounding hills and distant ocean.
The entrance establishes the property’s dramatic character. An oversized black-framed door opens into a bright foyer, where polished stone flooring and a large skylight introduce natural light. Beyond the entrance, the central lounge is arranged around curved seating and a circular rug, creating a softer contrast to the home’s expansive architectural lines.
The dining room is another defining interior space. A long rectangular table sits beneath a sculptural installation of suspended pendant lights, while floor-to-ceiling glazing draws attention toward the Los Angeles skyline. The kitchen, meanwhile, combines white finishes, dark wood cabinetry and a substantial central island, with an opening connecting the interior to an outdoor cooking and entertaining area.
These spaces are designed less as isolated formal rooms than as interconnected settings for everyday living and large-scale entertaining.
A Private Nightclub and Professional Recording Studio
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the mansion is the entertainment infrastructure Persson added during his ownership. Rather than relying exclusively on the amenities originally provided by its developer, he transformed the residence into a more personalized retreat for music, social gatherings and private events.
The nightclub is among its most unusual features. The dedicated space includes a bar, lounge seating, a dance floor, professional DJ equipment, custom lighting and a high-powered sound system. A curved wood-slat ceiling and illuminated furnishings give the room an atmosphere closer to an exclusive private club than a conventional residential entertainment room.
Nearby, a multimillion-dollar professional recording studio provides another specialized facility. Its control room features sculpted wood paneling, integrated lighting and professional production equipment, while a separate drum room allows live instruments to be recorded in an acoustically isolated environment.
Branden Williams of The Beverly Hills Estates, one of the listing agents, told Realtor.com that Persson frequently entertained at the property and invited well-known artists to record in the studio. The detail offers a glimpse into how the owner used the residence beyond its traditional function as a private home.
For prospective buyers, these additions may be particularly attractive if they value music, entertainment and the ability to host gatherings without leaving their own property.
A Primary Suite With Its Own Infinity-Edge Pool
The primary suite is another highlight, combining expansive glazing, a private terrace and a remarkable degree of separation from the home’s other living spaces.
From the bedroom, views extend toward downtown Los Angeles through a wall of retractable glass. The terrace continues the indoor-outdoor arrangement, with lounge seating positioned beside an infinity-edge swimming pool that appears to meet the distant skyline.
The adjoining bathroom features a freestanding marble soaking tub, a glass-enclosed shower and a double vanity. Together, these elements create a private retreat that places equal emphasis on comfort, views and architectural presentation.
Additional guest suites offer different interpretations of the home’s contemporary aesthetic. Some incorporate darker wood finishes and upholstered detailing, while others use extensive glazing to connect the bedrooms with landscaped outdoor terraces.
Resort-Style Outdoor Living and Extensive Amenities
Outside, the estate offers multiple settings for entertaining and relaxation. A covered outdoor kitchen includes a built-in grill, generous preparation counters and seating areas. The main backyard features a resort-style swimming pool, in-water loungers and a broad terrace oriented toward the surrounding landscape.
Other outdoor amenities include a separate patio with a pool table and a fire-pit lounge. The arrangement creates several distinct environments, allowing residents to move between more intimate gatherings and larger social occasions.
Inside, the amenity collection extends to a glass-enclosed wine cellar, a screening room with multiple rows of reclining leather seats, staff quarters and a dedicated security office. A private elevator further supports circulation throughout the expansive residence.
The property is offered furnished or unfurnished, according to the current listing, providing flexibility for a buyer who may wish to retain selected elements of its original interior presentation.
Life in Trousdale Estates: Privacy Above Beverly Hills
Trousdale Estates occupies a distinctive position within the Beverly Hills luxury market. Known for its elevated residential setting, architectural estates and expansive views, the neighborhood offers a more secluded atmosphere than the city’s central shopping and hospitality districts.
For residents, that privacy does not mean sacrificing access to the amenities associated with Beverly Hills. Rodeo Drive, located in the city’s celebrated Golden Triangle, brings together international fashion houses, jewelry boutiques, luxury hotels, galleries and fine-dining destinations.
The surrounding area also offers an established restaurant scene. Beverly Hills has a range of dining experiences, from refined Italian restaurants and contemporary cuisine to acclaimed hotel restaurants and neighborhood cafés. Funke and La Dolce Vita are among the notable destinations listed in the city’s visitor resources.
Beverly Gardens Park provides another dimension to the local lifestyle, with landscaped gardens, fountains, public art and walking areas along Santa Monica Boulevard. The city’s cultural attractions include the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and the historic Greystone Mansion and Gardens.
The location also provides access to the wider Los Angeles region, including West Hollywood, Century City and the entertainment and business districts farther east and west. For an owner whose lifestyle involves international travel, business commitments and access to the broader Los Angeles market, this combination of residential privacy and metropolitan convenience is an important part of the property’s appeal.
Why Is Markus Persson Selling the Mansion?
The decision to sell appears to be driven primarily by lifestyle considerations rather than a publicly disclosed financial difficulty. Listing agent Aaron Kirman told the Los Angeles Times that Persson no longer spends much time in Los Angeles, making the maintenance of such a substantial residence less practical.
Kirman also offered a broader perspective on the appeal of properties at this level, explaining that ultra-luxury buyers are often searching for something distinctive that cannot easily be replicated. His observation is particularly relevant to this estate, whose private nightclub and professional recording facilities give it a character beyond that of a conventional Beverly Hills mansion.
Persson has not publicly provided a detailed explanation of his decision in the available reporting. Realtor.com reported that the seller did not respond to its request for comment, while the listing agents have described his intention to sell.
For its next owner, 1181 N. Hillcrest Road represents an opportunity to acquire a substantial contemporary estate in one of Beverly Hills’ most recognizable luxury enclaves. Its history, panoramic setting and highly customized entertainment spaces distinguish it within a market where architectural scale alone is rarely enough to make a property memorable.
As the $70 million listing enters the market, the question is whether another buyer will place the same value on this highly individualized vision of California luxury living that Persson did more than a decade ago.