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Tech & Science
'Gus,' 67-million-year-old T. rex skeleton sold for $50.1 million at Sotheby's
Herz — Tech & Science Desk · · 30s summary · 2 min read
The essentials
The T. rex skeleton nicknamed 'Gus', aged 67 million years, sold on July 14, 2026, at Sotheby's in New York for £37.4 million ($50.1 million USD)—an absolute world record for a dinosaur fossil. The buyer has not been identified. Discovered in 2021 in South Dakota, the specimen stands over 4 meters tall and retains over 60% of its original bones. Several scientists believe this sale could herald a new era of fossil collecting by the ultra-wealthy.
- World record: $50.1 million for T. rex 'Gus' at Sotheby's
- First dinosaur sale exceeding the $50 million mark
- Fossil discovered in 2021 in South Dakota, over 60% of bones preserved
- Surpasses previous stegosaur 'Apex' record from 2024
- Scientists say this may herald a new era of fossil collecting by the ultra-wealthy
What we know
The Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed 'Gus' was auctioned at Sotheby's in New York on July 14, 2026, for £37.4 million—equivalent to $50.1 million—according to the BBC. This is a new world record for a dinosaur sale.
For the first time in fossil auction history, the $50 million threshold has been crossed.
The buyer's identity was not disclosed at the time of the sale.
The fossil
'Gus' stands over 4 meters tall and retains more than 60% of its original bones. Sotheby's presents it as one of the most complete T. rex specimens ever discovered.
Its skull bears bite marks. Its ribs show fractures that healed during its lifetime—injuries that may have been caused by fights or scavenging.
Timeline
- 01.01 01:00Discovery of the fossil on an isolated ranch in South Dakota, United States.
- 2021–2023Excavation of bones over three successive summers.
- 2024–2026Three years of laboratory work to prepare and reconstruct the skeleton.
- 14.07 02:00Sale at Sotheby's in New York for $50.1 million, new world record.
The previous record
The sale of 'Gus' surpasses the previous record set in 2024 by the stegosaur 'Apex'. Its owner, billionaire Kenneth Griffin, had lent that specimen to the American Museum of Natural History for four years.
Quotes
The public interest generated by this sale is beneficial for science and museums.
— Cassandra Hatton, global director of science and natural history, Sotheby's
What remains uncertain
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