A 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil nicknamed “Gus” sold for a record-breaking $50.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. The sale makes it the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever auctioned, surpassing the previous record of $44.6 million set by the stegosaurus “Apex” in 2024.
Key Details of the Specimen and Sale
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Physical Profile: Gus stands 12.5 feet tall and stretches 38 feet long. The skeleton is roughly 61% to 63% complete by bone count, featuring an exceptionally preserved skull, two well-represented feet, and a rare furcula (wishbone).
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Discovery & Excavation: The fossil was discovered in 2021 on a private cattle ranch in South Dakota. It was named in honor of ranch owner Gary “Gus” Licking, who passed away during the multi-year excavation and reconstruction process.
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The Bidding Battle: An anonymous telephone buyer secured the fossil in a fast-paced, 10-minute bidding war, comfortably beating Sotheby’s pre-sale estimate of $20 million to $30 million.
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Scientific Pushback: The sale has reignited criticism from the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Paleontologists argue that scientifically significant specimens belong in accredited museums for public education and research rather than disappearing into private collections.
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