A Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, nicknamed ‘Gus,’ has been sold for a record $50.1 million. The 67-million-year-old fossil is one of the world’s largest and most complete specimens, standing 12 ½ feet tall and 38 feet long. It was discovered in 2021 on a ranch in South Dakota and is about 63% complete, with an exceptionally preserved skull and other rare bones.
The Auction
The fossil was auctioned off by Sotheby’s, with the mystery winner outbidding six other prospective buyers during a 10-minute bidding battle. The auction house had estimated the fossil would fetch between $20 and $30 million, but it ultimately sold for a record-breaking $50.1 million.
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, an advocacy group of scientists, scholars, and students, had expressed concerns that the fossil should be publicly displayed in museums and other research institutions so that it can be preserved, documented, and accessible for future generations.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
