News summary produced by Claude AI
A 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $50.1 million on July 14, 2026, establishing a new record for dinosaur bones at auction. The specimen, nicknamed “Gus,” surpassed the previous record of approximately $45 million set by a stegosaurus sold by the same auction house in 2024, and exceeded the nearly $32 million paid for a T. rex skeleton called “Stan” in 2020.
The fossil represents an adult Tyrannosaurus rex measuring approximately 12.5 feet in height and 38 feet in length when positioned upright with its tail extended. According to Sotheby’s, the specimen is approximately 61% complete and features an exceptionally preserved skull with intact teeth, two well-represented feet, and several rarely found bones including a furcula, or wishbone. The specimen was discovered on a South Dakota ranch in 2021 and named to honor Gary Licking, the property owner who died during the five-year excavation and preparation process.
The anonymous winning bidder, who participated by telephone, outbid six other prospective buyers during a 10-minute bidding session. The fossil had been pre-auction estimated to fetch between $20 million and $30 million. Cassandra Hatton, vice chair of Sotheby’s, attributed the strong price to the exceptional care and documentation provided to the specimen throughout its excavation and preparation.
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology expressed hope that the new owner would donate the fossil to an accredited natural history museum to ensure continued scientific research and public access. The organization noted that significant fossils should remain available for study and educational purposes. Several notable dinosaur fossils, including the stegosaurus “Apex” currently on loan to the American Museum of Natural History and “Stan” displayed at Abu Dhabi’s Natural History Museum, have been made publicly accessible despite their record-breaking valuations.