Gus the T. rex fetches record $50 million at Sotheby’s auction

On July 14, 2026, a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for $50.1 million, including fees. The 11.6‑metre long, 3.8‑metre tall specimen, comprising 183 fossilized bones, was recovered from the Hell Creek formation in Harding County, South Dakota, and lived about 67 million years ago. The hammer price far exceeded the pre‑sale estimate of $20‑30 million and broke the previous fossil record set by the stegosaurus “Apex,” which sold for $44.6 million in 2024.

The buyer’s identity remains undisclosed; major institutions such as the Smithsonian and other natural‑history museums have said they did not place bids. The sale highlights a growing market for rare, well‑preserved dinosaur fossils, driven by wealthy private collectors seeking unique scientific and artistic trophies.