A Tyrannosaurus rex fossil nicknamed "Gus" fetched a record $50.1 million at auction Tuesday in New York, according to auction house Sotheby's. The buyer was not publicly identified, and the sale price was described as a new high for a dinosaur fossil sold at auction.
Sotheby's and media reports say the specimen is about 67 million years old and has been billed as one of the world's largest and most complete T. rex finds. The fossil's size and level of preservation were central to its high valuation and the attention it drew during the sale.
The transaction highlights strong market interest in high-profile paleontological specimens and sets a benchmark price for future sales. Beyond the headline figure, the auction leaves the fossil's future use and public accessibility to the discretion of the anonymous purchaser.
