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King of Fossils

The sale of a T. rex skeleton has broken records and created waves among scientists.

Dec 2026 / Jan 2027
By Mimi Kanda

“Gus” Tyrannosaurus rex specimen. Courtesy of Sotheby’s. Photo by Matthew Sherman.

Why do many people believe this fossil belongs in a museum or university?

Quick—think of a dinosaur! Did Tyrannosaurus rex come to mind? With its massive teeth, tiny arms, and reputation as a fierce killer, this apex predator is one of the most famous prehistoric creatures to walk the earth. Now imagine you own a T. rex skeleton. What would you do with it?

This seems like a ridiculous question, but it’s a real one for a collector who purchased one of the largest T. rex  skeletons ever found—named Gus—at an auction in July 2026. In an auction, multiple people place bids, competing to buy an item, and the highest bidder wins. In this case, a mystery buyer purchased Gus for a whopping $50.1 million! This makes Gus the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold.

Gus was named after Gary “Gus” Licking, owner of the land in South Dakota where the bones were discovered. During the excavation, which started in 2021, a record 183 bones were recovered. Standing at more than 12 feet tall and 38 feet long—about the height and length of a school bus—Gus is the largest and most complete T. rex skeleton ever found.

Not everyone is happy about the sale. Many fear that because a private buyer bought Gus, the fossils won’t be easily accessible for paleontologists (people who study fossils) and the public to learn from. Others defend the purchase, arguing that the proceeds from the sale will help pay for the excavation.

Scientists and members of the public have become invested in Gus’s future. Since paleontologist Barnum Brown first discovered a T. rex skeleton at the beginning of the 20th century, this ancient predator has played an important role in history and popular culture. Experts hope Gus’s buyer will donate the skeleton to a museum or university where people can study it, dispelling myths and adding to the dinosaur’s ferocious legacy.


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