A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” sold for $50.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on Tuesday, setting a new record for the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold. The 67-million-year-old specimen, which is approximately 61% complete, was purchased by an anonymous phone bidder after a 10-minute bidding battle.
A Record-Breaking Hammer Price for Gus
Tuesday’s final price of $50.1 million, which includes fees, exceeded the auction house’s pre-sale estimate of $20 million to $30 million.
The skeleton, discovered on a ranch in Harding County, South Dakota, is named after the late landowner Gary “Gus” Licking, who passed away during the multi-year process of excavating and preparing the specimen. The fossil is approximately 12 1/2 feet tall and features an exceptionally preserved
skull, which was displayed separately in the lobby of Sotheby’s Breuer building during the preview period.
Scientific Significance and Private Ownership
The transition of rare fossils into private hands continues to spark debate among the scientific community. While the auction of Gus was legally permitted under U.S. law—where landowners own the fossils found on their property—many palaeontologists express concern that such sales remove significant specimens from the public record.
This sentiment is shared by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, which advocates for the public display of scientifically significant bones.
“Our hope is that the new owner recognizes the extraordinary scientific and educational value of Gus the T. rex and that they aim to keep it in the public trust by immediately donating it to an accredited natural history museum.”
Kristi Curry Rogers, president-elect of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, via NPR
Sotheby’s Defense of the Fossil Market
Sotheby’s has defended the sale, framing it as an opportunity to celebrate and preserve exceptional specimens. Cassandra Hatton, the auction house’s vice chair, emphasized the rigorous effort required to prepare such a massive skeleton for the market. Gus is not only an exceptional find, but a specimen that’s been excavated, documented, prepared, and cared for with real excellence,
Hatton said, as noted by Newscord. She added that the market responds when great specimens are taken care of in the right way.
The specimen is notably complete, containing 183 fossil bone elements and 30 of the 32 rarely found gastralia, or belly ribs. It also shows evidence of a life marked by combat and scavenging, with healed fractures in its ribs and bite marks on its skull bones.
The Future of Gus
The identity of the buyer remains anonymous, and it is currently unclear whether Gus will be donated to a museum or kept in a private collection. While some previous record-holders like “Apex” have been loaned to museums, the long-term accessibility of Gus remains a central question for researchers hoping to glean new data from his remains.
| Dinosaur Fossil | Sale Year | Sale Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gus (T. rex) | 2026 | $50.1 million |
| Apex (Stegosaurus) | 2024 | $44.6 million |
| Stan (T. rex) | 2020 | $32 million |
For now, the scientific community waits to see if the new owner will follow the path of past collectors who have opted for public loan agreements, or if Gus will disappear from the academic landscape. As the auction house noted during the sale process, the specimen requires specialized shipping and handling, marking the end of its journey from the South Dakota hills to the center of the global art market.
