Markus 'Notch' Persson, Mojang CEO, Gives $3 Million To Employees

Mojang CEO Markus 'Notch' Persson, pictured here at the 2011 Game Developers Conference

It's not always infuriating when employees take home extra cash. Unlike Wall Street bonuses, which have drawn widespread scorn from the public, news that tech CEO Markus 'Notch' Persson decided to give his employees an extra $3 million elicited a joyful reaction.

The Escapist reports that Persson, who heads Mojang, creators of the computer game "Minecraft," decided to distribute his stock dividends to his fellow "Mojangstas".

"Before tax, my dividends from Mojang for 2011 was about three million dollars. I chose to distribute that to the other employees," Persson announced on Twitter.

The CEO's generosity was greeted with joy and even tears from employees.

"Im already crying...tears in shock and happiness," Mojangsta Daniel Kaplan tweeted.

One poster on a Minecraft forum said they hope Persson's gesture will inspire others to mimic his kindness.

"... Perhaps, we can all look to this as an example of selfless generosity, and emulate it in kind," the poster wrote.

Photo by Flickr user Official GDC

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Comments

[adamaha]

12:12 PM on 04/16/2013

This article is incorrectly reporting Markus Perrson is the CEO of Mojang. He isn't--he's chairman of the board and a shareholder--so those comparing him to "greedy" CEOs of other companies like EA should be aware that their comparisons aren't valid. A closer comparison would be your bank's board of directors deciding not to give you the interest earned on your savings/CDs/investments and giving that to the bank's employees instead.

[volvoV70guy]

10:31 AM on 03/07/2012

I think it's important to point out that Mojang is a very small company with only 25 employees, all of whom Notch works with very closely every day, as he isn't exactly an "executive," like you would find in larger companies. Something like this would never happen at EA or Valve (or any of the other large gaming companies).

[ttsgw]

11:37 AM on 03/06/2012

Why not give them a decent salary instead?

[LynusBorgus]

06:10 AM on 04/12/2012

Who says he hasn'T done that already?

[jamesh1954]

01:06 AM on 03/06/2012

Well played sir!
/Hoping this becomes a trend nation wide.

[Backtalkisahorse]

08:24 AM on 03/05/2012

he needs national recognition

[Lea Benny Stum]

12:56 AM on 03/05/2012

Wish he would hire my husband, who is going for his BA in Game Design.

[volvoV70guy]

10:25 AM on 03/07/2012

Mojang was hiring recently, but you'd have to move to Sweden.

[Lea Benny Stum]

12:55 AM on 03/05/2012

This man is amazing. Has to be American's best CEO, that cares about his employees, ( instead of most, who just say they care.- while Employees are stepped on by upper management * been there, Lucky, I was a favorite but I left because how my follow employees where treated* Now I make more money somewhere else. :D)

[Alexodia]

09:47 AM on 03/05/2012

He is not American he is Swedish. Wish he was American but he isn't.

[123deanna]

06:45 PM on 03/04/2012

I think we forget profits made usually go to the 'stockholders', plus the CEO's negotiate salaries, bonus etc before they take on the job as a CEO. If the company is small and this guy is the CEO/President and Janitor of is own company, most likely he doesn't have stockholders (yet), I don't know anything about this company, but I'm just sayin' ususlly this is how large companies operate. Now, on the otherhand, if you perform at a high rating within your company you 'do' get many benefits, good bonus, etc...but, never any where near what the company makes in profits, nor any CEO..it really needs to be adjusted. I love hearing these stories about a CEO knowing who makes the company run and 'make' a profit. Good for Him.

[sindfetish]

03:45 PM on 03/04/2012

Nice story, nice man and nice lesson.

[SteveFromEuless]

03:01 PM on 03/04/2012

A CEO who knows he couldn't do it on his own. Priceless!

[Democrapper]

12:37 PM on 03/04/2012

Somebody finally gets it. Salute to your humanity & generosity. It's to bad that other CEO's don't have your vision.

[Judyr311]

12:21 PM on 03/04/2012

May I have a job working for YOUR company?

[mwnyy]

04:16 PM on 03/04/2012

Me too?

[ellenthered]

12:15 PM on 03/04/2012

Bravo! This employer understands that while HIS ideas are the catalyst and the foundation on which the business is built, HIS WORKERS are the engine that make the business run. It is teamwork and the proceeds should be spread among the team. NO ONE does it alone... I know. I am a business owner and I pay my employees the same per hour as I make, because without THEM I have no business. This way, I have a successful business where EVERYONE gives 110% because we ALL have a stake in the outcome, and in the end we are ALL happy and pleased with being part of the team that makes it happen. I repeat, NO ONE DOES IT ALONE ... recognizing that others have helped you make it is a good business model.

[silsez]

12:06 PM on 03/04/2012

That was a wonderful gesture, kudos to CEO Persson.

[stevenburman]

11:53 AM on 03/04/2012

I had a boss who explained the bonuses he gave out this way - "I give bonuses because it's a choice between giving it to the government or giving it to employees as a bonus". Not out of any sense of appreciation for the people who actually made him his money. Of course, this is the same guy who would fire people at 5PM with no notice at all, then pitched a fit like a whiny child when I quit with no notice. Said it was "unprofessional". When I asked why it was ok for him to fire with no notice, but not ok for me to quit with no notice, he had no answer. Funny.


But I do have to admit I'd still be happy to get the bonus no matter why it was given.

[silsez]

12:20 PM on 03/04/2012

2 wrongs don't make a right and it WAS "unprofessional" of you to quit without notice. I'm sure that obnoxious little stunt will follow you like a stink for quite some time and effect future employment opportunities outside of the fast food industry. Nobody likes a smug little smart a_s_s.
Not only that, you come in here to gripe that you didn't like "his reason" for the bonus? Sounds to me like you didn't deserve it in the first place.

[stealur]

05:48 PM on 03/07/2012

I live in an at-will state. The day I decide to quit, is the day I pack up and leave. Why do employees need to give employers all of these nice little courtesies, only to get screwed in return? Forget that. Plus, HR here isn't allowed to say a word except "No, we wouldn't hire him back", unless they want a lawsuit.

[rini1946]

12:33 PM on 03/04/2012

The thing you for get if he kept say the 100,000 grand for bonus and paid taxes on it. he would still have at least 70 grand for himself after taxes. There is no tax advantage to give out a bonus. (yes he would pay 30 grand less in taxes but he is giving away 100 grand to do it) There is somthing wrong with your story.