A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed "Gus" sold for a record $50.1 million at Sotheby's in New York on Tuesday, becoming the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever auctioned. The anonymous buyer acquired the 67-million-year-old specimen, which is about 61% complete by bone count and includes 183 fossilized bones. The previous record was set in 2024 with the sale of a Stegosaurus skeleton for $44.6 million.
Gus was discovered in 2021 on a cattle ranch in South Dakota and is one of the largest and most complete T. rex specimens ever found. The skeleton measures 11.6 meters (38 feet) in body length and stands approximately 12.5 feet tall. It also features healed fractures and bite marks, offering clues about the dinosaur's life.
The auction lasted 10 minutes, with seven bidders participating. Sotheby's had estimated the fossil would sell for between $20 million and $30 million. Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice chairman and worldwide head of science and natural history, praised the specimen's quality and the team's work in excavating and preparing it.
The sale highlights a growing market for dinosaur fossils, which has drawn criticism from some paleontologists. They argue that private ownership of such specimens limits scientific access and research opportunities. The U.S. is the only country where fossils are considered personal property, allowing landowners to sell them.
Gus is now the most valuable dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction, surpassing the previous record set by "Apex" the Stegosaurus in 2024. The buyer's identity remains anonymous.