- Gus T. rex sold for $50.1 million at Sotheby's New York, a record auction price for a fossil.
- Skeleton is one of the most complete T. rexes with 183 fossilized bones, discovered in South Dakota in 2021.
- Measures 38 feet (11.6 meters) and is roughly 63 percent complete, among largest T. rexes found.
- Sale followed a 10-minute bidding battle among seven bidders, bought by an anonymous buyer.
- Experts criticize private sales; in US fossils on private land can be sold, unlike other countries; previous record was $44.6 million.
A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” sold Tuesday for $50.1 million at Sotheby’s in New York, making it the most valuable dinosaur fossil bought at auction after a 10-minute battle between seven bidders.
“Gus” is one of the world’s most complete T. rex skeletons — with 183 fossilized bones — and was discovered on a cattle ranch in South Dakota in 2021.
The giant beast lived some 72 to 66 million years ago — a period characterized by a warm climate, high sea levels and vast floodable coastal plains.
The skeleton measures 38 feet (11.6 meters) in body length, making it one of the largest T. rexes ever discovered. It is roughly 63 percent complete.
Tuesday’s purchase by an anonymous buyer highlights a surging market for dinosaur bones — a trend that has drawn criticism from some paleontologists over the specimens going into private hands.
“The United States is the only country in the world where fossils like this are considered personal property,” Cassandra Hatton, head of science and natural history at Sotheby’s, told AFP before the auction.
“If you own the land, you own the fossil and you have the right to sell it. So if you want a dinosaur, this is the only place that you can get it,” she said.
The previous record for a fossil auction was “Apex” the Stegosaurus, bought for $44.6 million in 2024 by hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin.
