Markus Persson

Persson owned 71% of Mojang when Microsoft acquired the Minecraft developer in November 2014. Microsoft's annual report records a $2.5 billion cash acquisition, while Forbes documented his controlling stake after the sale. That combination made the transaction unusually consequential for one individual. It also separates the founder's reward from the portions belonging to his fellow shareholders: creating the game and owning all of its developer were not the same thing.