Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton Sells for $31.8 Million

A Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, dating back approximately 67 million years, was sold for $31.8 million at a Sotheby's auction held in New York this week. The specimen, identified as a T. rex, represents the most expensive dinosaur skeleton ever sold at auction. The sale took place on November 9, 2023.

The skeleton, nicknamed "Gozilla" by its discoverers, was unearthed in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. This geological formation is known for its rich fossil deposits from the Late Cretaceous period. The T. rex specimen is reported to be approximately 40 feet long and 8 feet high at the hip, making it a significant find in terms of size and preservation.

Sotheby's described the skeleton as "exceptionally well-preserved," noting that it consists of over 160 fossilized bones. The auction house also highlighted the scientific significance of the find, offering insights into the anatomy and behavior of the apex predator that once dominated North America. The identity of the buyer has not been publicly disclosed by Sotheby's.

This record-breaking sale surpasses previous high-profile dinosaur fossil auctions. For instance, a Triceratops skeleton sold for $7.7 million in 2021, and a different T. rex skeleton, known as "Sue," was acquired by the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago in 1997 for $8.4 million (which was a record at the time). The substantial increase in value reflects growing interest in paleontology and the market for unique natural history artifacts.