An anonymous bidder purchased the 67-million-year-old T. rex fossil "Gus" for a record $50.1 million at Sotheby's New York auction Tuesday.
A rare and remarkably complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil has sold for a record $50.1 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York, becoming the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever auctioned and reigniting debate over whether scientifically important specimens should remain in private collections or be displayed in public museums.
Before the sale, the specimen had been estimated to fetch between $20 million and $30 million.
A 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil known as "Gus" sold for $50.1 million at Sotheby's in New York, setting a new world record for the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction, the auction house announced on Wednesday.
The fossil surpassed the previous record set in 2024, when an almost complete Stegosaurus skeleton sold for nearly $45 million at Sotheby's. It also exceeded the $31.8 million paid for the famous T. rex skeleton "Stan" in 2020.
According to Sotheby's, Gus is one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossils ever discovered. The mounted skeleton stands about 3.8 meters (12.5 feet) tall and stretches more than 11.5 meters (38 feet) long. Excavators recovered approximately 61 percent of the original skeleton, including an exceptionally well-preserved skull with powerful jaws and teeth, both hind legs, and several rare bones such as the furcula, or wishbone.
The fossil was discovered in 2021 on a ranch in South Dakota and was named after landowner Gary Leiking, who died during the nearly five-year excavation, conservation and mounting process.
Sotheby's said the fossil was purchased by an anonymous bidder participating by telephone after a competitive 10-minute auction involving seven bidders. Before the sale, the specimen had been estimated to fetch between $20 million and $30 million.
Following the auction, Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice chairman for science and natural history, described Gus as an exceptional specimen whose excavation, documentation, conservation and preparation were carried out to the highest professional standards. She said the market continues to recognize the value of scientifically important fossils that have been carefully preserved.
The record-breaking sale has renewed concerns among paleontologists about the growing number of scientifically valuable fossils entering private collections. The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology said specimens of major scientific significance should remain accessible in museums and research institutions to ensure they are preserved, studied and available to future generations.
Christie Curry Rogers, the society's president-elect, expressed hope that the anonymous buyer would recognize the fossil's scientific and educational importance and eventually donate it to a reputable natural history museum. She said public access would allow researchers to continue studying the specimen while enabling millions of visitors to learn from one of the best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossils ever found.
Several high-profile dinosaur fossils sold at auction in recent years have ultimately entered museum collections. The record-breaking Stegosaurus known as "Apex" is currently on long-term loan to the American Museum of Natural History in New York, while "Stan" is now displayed at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
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