A £37.4 million ($50.1 million) sale has sent shockwaves through the world of palaeontology as a colossal Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, dubbed 'Gus', shattered records at a Sotheby's auction in New York. The staggering price far exceeds pre-sale estimates, underscoring the intense fascination with prehistoric relics.
Standing at 3.8 metres (12.5ft) tall and boasting an approximate body length of 38ft, 'Gus' is one of the largest and most complete T. rex specimens unearthed to date. The 67 million-year-old fossil was excavated between 2021 and 2023 on a ranch in Harding County, South Dakota, by commercial fossil recovery firm Theropoda Expeditions. Named after Gary 'Gus' Licking, the landowner where the discovery was made, the skeleton's impressive features include dagger-like teeth and a 'predatory pose' mounting.
Sotheby's highlighted the specimen's exceptional preservation, including its 183 fossil bone elements – including 30 of the 32 rarely found gastralia (belly ribs). The fossil boasts approximately 61% completion by bone count and 75 to 80% completion in terms of bone mass. Its exceptionally preserved skull includes all six dentitions, offering a rare insight into the ancient predator.
The record-breaking sale has reignited debate within the scientific community about the ethics of selling significant fossils into private collections. Palaeontologists argue that such sales can severely hinder academic research by making these irreplaceable specimens inaccessible to institutions and scientists. Professor Richard Butler, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Birmingham, expressed strong concerns, stating that fossils not held in recognised museum collections are 'lost to research'.
Professor Stephen Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the legality of such sales in the US but expressing concern as a scientist. The skeleton itself reveals clues about its past life, showing evidence of tyrannosaurid bite marks on its skull and other bones, suggesting combat or post-mortem scavenging.
The sale of 'Gus' further cements the trend of dinosaur fossils becoming high-value commodities in the art and luxury market. The previous record for a dinosaur fossil at auction was held by 'Apex', a Stegosaurus, which sold for £33.2 million ($44.6 million) at a Sotheby's auction in 2024.