‘Gus’ the T rex fetches record (US)$50.1 million at auction

“Gus”, a mounted Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, one of the largest T. rex ever found, is pictured during a press preview at the Sotheby’s Breuer building in New York, on July 1, 2026. The 67-million-year-old skeleton, found during an excavation on private land in South Dakota and comprising 183 fossil bones, representing up to 80% of the animal’s total bone mass, making it one of the most complete T. rex fossils ever found, will be put to auction as part of the “Summer Season at the Breuer” from late June through mid-August 2026. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) — “Gus”, a mounted Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, one of the largest T. rex ever found, is pictured during a press preview at the Sotheby’s Breuer building in New York.

A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” sold for (US)$50.1 million at Sotheby’s in New York, making it the most valuable dinosaur fossil bought at auction after a 10-minute battle between seven bidders.

“Gus” is one of the world’s most complete T. rex skeletons - with 183 fossilized bones - and was discovered on a cattle ranch in South Dakota in 2021.

The giant beast lived some 72 to 66 million years ago - a period characterised by a warm climate, high sea levels and vast floodable coastal plains.

The skeleton measures 11.6 metres in body length, making it one of the largest T. rexes ever discovered. It is roughly 63 percent complete.

Tuesday’s purchase by an anonymous buyer highlights a surging market for dinosaur bones - a trend that has drawn criticism from some paleontologists over the specimens going into private hands.

“The United States is the only country in the world where fossils like this are considered personal property,” Cassandra Hatton, head of science and natural history at Sotheby’s, told AFP before the auction.

“If you own the land, you own the fossil and you have the right to sell it. So if you want a dinosaur, this is the only place that you can get it,” she said.

The previous record for a fossil auction was “Apex” the Stegosaurus, bought for (US)$44.6 million in 2024 by hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin.

- AFP