Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton Sells for Record $50 Million at Sotheby's New York

A remarkably well-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named "Gus" sold for over $50 million at Sotheby's auction house in New York on Tuesday, setting a new record for dinosaur fossil sales. The previous record was $44.6 million for the largest Stegosaurus skeleton ever found. The auction began with a starting price of $19 million and an estimated sale range of $20 to $30 million, but bidding quickly escalated to $43 million from an anonymous buyer who was not present in the auction room. Including fees, the final price reached $50,130,000.

Gus measures approximately 11.5 meters in length and 3.8 meters in height, making it one of the largest and most complete T. rex specimens from the Cretaceous period, around 67 million years ago. The skeleton comprises 183 fossilized bones, including 30 of 32 rare gastralia bones (belly ribs) that are usually excluded from official bone counts. Overall, Gus is about 61% complete by bone count, but the bones represent an estimated 75% to 80% of the original skeletal mass, ranking it among the most complete T. rex skeletons ever discovered.

The skull is exceptionally well-preserved, retaining about 82% of its original bones, including all six sets of teeth. The skeleton also features rare arm bones, a fused wishbone (furcula) typically seen in modern birds, and two well-preserved feet, a rarity among T. rex fossils. The skeleton includes a relatively complete pelvis, extensive vertebrae from the neck, back, pelvis, and tail, and numerous other bones. Researchers identified Gus as a large, robust adult based on bone size and development.

Signs of violent life are evident on the skeleton, including bite marks on the skull and lower jaw likely caused by other tyrannosaurids, possibly from fights or scavenging. Healed fractures on ribs and gastralia bones provide further insight into the dinosaur's life. The skeleton was professionally prepared and mounted in an anatomically accurate attacking pose, with the tail stretched back, one leg slightly raised, and jaws open to reveal massive teeth. The inclusion of gastralia bones in the chest area is unusual and gives the display a more lifelike appearance.

Gus's bones have a rich amber-brown color and typical mineralization from the Hell Creek Formation in the United States, a renowned source of late Cretaceous dinosaur fossils. Experts say Gus's exceptional size, preservation, and biological data make it one of the most important T. rex skeletons ever found.