$50 million T-Rex skeleton: The madness of grandeur at New York auction

In New York, a Sotheby’s auction recently made headlines: sold for the modest sum of $50.1 million, the T-Rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” became the most expensive fossil in history.

$50.1 million, or approximately 43.8 million euros. But who could have possibly purchased Gus’s skeleton? We’ll probably never know, since the buyer wished to remain anonymous.

This 11.6-meter-long giant (about 63% complete) was discovered in 2021 on a ranch in South Dakota. This fearsome predator lived between 72 and 66 million years ago, during the Maastrichtian period.

This spectacular acquisition confirms the growing enthusiasm for the dinosaur fossil market. However, this upward trend has angered many paleontologists, who regret seeing such scientific treasures enrich private collections rather than museums.

The unique nature of U.S. law

This record-breaking sale is made possible by unique U.S. legislation, as Cassandra Hatton, a natural history expert at Sotheby’s, explained prior to the auction:

“The United States is the only country in the world where fossils of this type are considered private property. If you own the land, you own the fossil and have the right to sell it. So, if you want a dinosaur, this is the only place where you can buy one.”

With this transaction, “Gus” officially dethrones the previous record held by the stegosaur “Apex,” which sold for $44.6 million in 2024 to billionaire Ken Griffin, who has since loaned it to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.