Colossal T. rex sells for record $50 million

A newly discovered T. rex named “Gus”,
one of the largest ever found, has sold
for $50.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction
in New York – the highest price
ever paid for a dinosaur


TYRANNOSAURUS REX
Dinosaur inhabited Earth in late Cretaceous period, between 68-66 million years ago

Gus boasts remarkably well-preserved skull with more than 82% of bones present

Gus has 183 fossil bones, representing up to 80% of animal’s total bone mass, making it one of most complete T. rex specimens ever found


Gus found in 2021 on South Dakota ranch, named after late cattle rancher who owned land

Length: 11.6 metres


MOST EXPENSIVE DINOSAURS SOLD
Name / Species	Price / Auction Year

Gus		$50.1 million
T-rex		2026, Sotheby’s

Apex		$44.6 million
Stegosaurus	2024, Sotheby’s

Stan		$31.8 million
T-rex		2020, Christie’s

Unnamed		$30.5 million
Ceratosaurus	2025, Sotheby’s

Sue		$8.36 million
T-rex		1997, Sotheby’s


Apex stegosaurus (above),
which held previous record, was
loaned to American Natural History
Museum in 2024 for four years by
billionaire-owner Kenneth Griffin


Sources: Sotheby’s
Pictures: Matthew Sherman/Sotheby’s, Getty Images
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