T. Rex Fossil 'Gus' Sells for $50.1M at Auction

A fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, known as 'Gus', sold for $50.1 million at Sotheby's in New York on July 14, 2026. The sale was made to a phone bidder and included fees, totaling the record-breaking amount. This price significantly exceeded the pre-sale estimate, which ranged from $20 million to $30 million. The T. rex fossil is considered one of the largest and most complete ever unearthed. It was originally excavated on a ranch located in South Dakota. The auction result establishes a new benchmark for the sale of dinosaur fossils, highlighting the significant market value placed on such paleontological discoveries. The identity of the phone bidder has not been publicly disclosed.