A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, estimated to be 67 million years old, has achieved a staggering £37.4 million ($50.1 million) at a Sotheby's auction in New York, setting a new world record for the most expensive dinosaur ever sold. The specimen, known as 'Gus', was discovered in 2021 on a remote ranch in the US state of South Dakota.
Standing over four metres tall and boasting more than 60% of its original bones, 'Gus' is considered by Sotheby's to be one of the most complete T. rex fossils ever unearthed. Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's worldwide head of science and natural history, highlighted the extensive effort involved in bringing 'Gus' to auction, stating that the price reflects the years of work dedicated to its excavation, documentation, preparation, and careful preservation.
The excavation of 'Gus' spanned three summers, from 2021 to 2023, when weather conditions allowed for the ground to thaw. Following its retrieval, it took a further three years of meticulous laboratory work to piece the formidable predator back together. This detailed reconstruction revealed intriguing details about 'Gus's' life, including bite marks on its skull and healed broken ribs, suggesting potential encounters during scavenging or battles with other dinosaurs.
This landmark sale has eclipsed the previous record held by a stegosaurus, sold in 2024, and is the first dinosaur fossil to exceed the $50 million benchmark. The identity of the winning bidder on Tuesday remains undisclosed. However, past instances, such as the billionaire Kenneth Griffin's acquisition of the stegosaurus 'Apex', which was subsequently loaned to the American Natural History Museum for four years, offer a glimmer of hope that 'Gus' might eventually be made accessible to the public.
Some scientists have voiced concerns to the BBC that such high-profile auctions could usher in a new era of fossil collecting dominated by the ultra-wealthy, potentially limiting public access to significant scientific discoveries. Nevertheless, the meticulous preparation and exceptional completeness of 'Gus' underscore its immense scientific value, regardless of its ultimate destination.