T. rex fossil 'Gus' heads to Sotheby's with bids starting at $19M
Why it matters: Scientists warn a private sale could limit research access to one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimens found.
A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed Gus is set to go up for auction Tuesday at Sotheby's in New York, with bidding set to open at $19 million and estimates reaching $30 million. The fossil was found in 2021 on private ranch land in Harding County, South Dakota, and excavated through 2023 by Theropoda Expeditions. Sotheby's says Gus is among the largest and most complete T. rex specimens discovered, measuring about 38 feet long and 12.5 feet tall. The sale has renewed a long-running dispute over whether scientifically important fossils should go to wealthy buyers or public museums, where researchers and the public can study them.