T. rex fossil fetches record $50.1 million at Sotheby’s auction
Why it matters: The sale topped the prior fossil-auction record of $44.6 million and underscores rising demand for dinosaur collectibles.
A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed Gus sold for $50.1 million at Sotheby’s in New York on Tuesday, setting a record for the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever auctioned. The price beat Sotheby’s 2024 sale of Apex, a Stegosaurus skeleton that brought $44.6 million. Sotheby’s said Gus drew seven bidders in a 10-minute contest and sold above its $20 million to $30 million estimate. The specimen was discovered in South Dakota and is described as one of the largest and most complete T. rex fossils found, with 183 bone elements and a body length of about 38 feet. The sale highlights a fast-growing market for dinosaur fossils, even as some paleontologists warn about private ownership and limited safeguards around authentication.