NEW YORK (Lord Media): A rare T. rex dinosaur skeleton has set a new auction record in New York, selling for 51.3 million U.S. dollars, making it the most expensive fossil ever auctioned.
Named ‘Gus’ after South Dakota rancher Gary Gus Licking, the skeleton was discovered between 2021 and 2023, followed by cleaning and restoration in a laboratory.
According to Sotheby’s, the auction house, the skeleton comprises 183 fossilized bones and is approximately 61% complete, measuring 38 feet in length and 12.5 feet in height.
The buyer, who bid via phone, remains unidentified. Scientists have expressed concerns that private ownership of rare fossils could hinder scientific research.
Scientists advocate for such fossils to be housed in museums, allowing global access for study and research. The buyer’s decision on whether to donate the fossil to a museum or keep it privately is awaited.
