T rex fossil ‘Gus’ sells for $50.1m at New York auction, setting new record
A T. rex skeleton named 'Gus' sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York for $50.1 million, setting a new record for a dinosaur fossil. The sale has sparked debate among scientists regarding the impact of private ownership on paleontological research.
Why it matters
The record-breaking sale highlights the growing market for high-value fossils and the ongoing tension between private collectors and the scientific community.
‘Gus’, a fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, at Sotheby's at the Breuer building in New York City. Photograph: John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock ‘Gus’, a fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, at Sotheby's at the Breuer building in New York City. Photograph: John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock New York T rex fossil ‘Gus’ sells for $50.1m at New York auction, setting new record Skeleton judged to be one of the largest and most complete ever unearthed was excavated on a ranch in South Dakota
Prefer the Guardian on Google A vast, fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex nicknamed Gus sold at Sotheby’s in New York on Tuesday for $50.1m with fees (£37.4m) to a phone bidder – making it the most valuable dinosaur fossil sold at auction.
It also sold well above a pre-sale estimate of $20m to $30m (£15m to £22.4m).
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