Rare T. rex fossil sells for record $50.1 million at auction
Summary
A nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton called Gus sold for $50.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, setting a new record price for a dinosaur fossil. The fossil is about 61% complete and dates back around 67 million years, making it one of the largest and most complete T. rex skeletons ever found.Key Facts
- The T. rex skeleton, nicknamed Gus, stands about 12.5 feet tall and is roughly 38 feet long.
- It consists of 183 bones plus many rare rib specimens.
- Gus sold for $50.1 million, exceeding the auction house’s predicted price of $20 to $30 million.
- Only seven bidders took part in the auction, which lasted about 10 minutes.
- The skeleton was found on land owned by Gary "Gus" Licking in Harding County, South Dakota.
- The fossil dates from the late Cretaceous period, about 67 million years ago.
- Only 32 T. rex skeletons have ever been found, and Gus is 61% complete—one of the most complete ever discovered.
- Two other well-known T. rex skeletons are Sue, displayed in Chicago, and Stan, displayed in Abu Dhabi.
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