T. Rex 'Gus' Fetches Record $50.1 Million

A nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed Gus sold for $50.1 million at Sotheby’s in New York, shattering the record for the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever auctioned.

The sale has alarmed scientists who fear the 67-million-year-old specimen will vanish into a private collection.

The fossil, billed as one of the world’s largest and most complete T. rex specimens, was snapped up by a mystery bidder within 10 minutes of going on the block.

Paleontologists have expressed concern that such high-profile auctions drive fossils beyond the reach of museums and research institutions, potentially depriving the public and scientific community of access to irreplaceable specimens.