Record-Breaking T. rex Becomes the Most Expensive Dinosaur Ever

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:38:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 67‑million‑year‑old T. rex named Gus sells for $50 m at Sotheby’s, beating the stegosaurus record and sparking debate about fossil ownership.

A 67‑million‑year‑old Tyrannosaurus rex, nicknamed Gus, was auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York for £37.4 m ($50 m), setting a new price record for any dinosaur. The specimen, over 12 ft tall and 60 % complete, was discovered in South Dakota in 2021 and meticulously prepared over six years. The buyer remains anonymous, but experts warn that the find may signal a future era where ultra‑rich collectors secure top fossils. Despite the hefty price, the T. rex could soon find a permanent home in a museum, following the fate of the stegosaurus Apex.

The world’s most jaw‑dropping blockbuster: a 67‑million‑year‑old Tyrannosaurus rex named Gus hit a staggering £37.4 m ($50 m) at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, eclipsing the previous stegosaurus record set in 2024.

Co‑extracted from a remote South Dakota ranch in 2021, Gus is a tour‑guide‑grade skeleton that towers over 12 ft (≈4 m) high and is more than 60 % complete—one of the best‑preserved T. rex fossils ever recovered.

T. rex skeleton on pedestal — Gus, the 67‑million‑year‑old T. rex, posing proudly at the auction.

The fossil had to battle the weather, being dug out over three summers (2021‑23) in thaw‑sensitive ground, then spent three more years in the lab to be pieced together. It shows bite‑marks on its skull and healed ribs that suggest a life of skirmishes.

Sotheby’s head of science Cassandra Hatton said the price reflected the exhaustive excavating and restoration work. While the buyer remains anonymous, experts warn that the deal could usher in an era where ultra‑rich collectors chase high‑value fossils.

The record‑set sale might also mean Gus could eventually land in a museum, much like the stegosaurus Apex was loaned to the American Natural History Museum for years, offering the public a chance to see this legend in person.