Gus, the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered, photographed during a press preview at Sotheby’s Breuer Building in New York on July 1, 2026.
Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images
A Tyrannosaurus rex specimen sold at Sotheby’s for $50.1 million, the highest price ever sold for a dinosaur at auction.
Taking advantage of the soaring prices of dinosaurs at auction, the Tyrannosaurus rex, named Gus, significantly exceeded its estimated price of $20 million to $30 million after a 10-minute bidding war between seven bidders. This broke the previous record set in 2024, when Sotheby’s sold a Stegosaurus skeleton known as Apex for $44.6 million, which was purchased by billionaire hedge funder Ken Griffin.
The gas was discovered in South Dakota and is approximately 67 million years old. Touted as one of the most complete dinosaur specimens ever discovered, Gus has 183 fossil bone elements and is approximately 61% complete by bone count. At approximately 38 feet long, 12.5 feet tall, and with a 54-inch skull, it is one of the largest Tyrannosaurus rex fossils ever discovered, according to Sotheby’s.
Gus also exhibited numerous injuries, including several broken and healed ribs and abdomen, and several bite marks on his skull.
Cassandra Hutton, Sotheby’s Vice Chair and Worldwide Head of Science and Natural History, said: “Gas is not only an exceptional find, but a specimen that has been excavated, recorded, prepared and cared for in truly excellent condition.”
Dinosaur fossils have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the collectibles market, as wealthy individuals seek out rare stores with long-term value and auction houses look to categories other than fine art to diversify their sales. A Tyrannosaurus rex named Stan sold for $31.8 million at Christie’s in 2020.
Gass’ success is likely to spur the sale of more dinosaur bones, but paleontologists and other experts warn the industry has few safeguards for authenticity or verification.
