T. rex fossil sells for record £37.4m, becoming world's most expensive dinosaur A spectacular 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex has become the most expensive dinosaur ever sold after fetching £37.4 million ($50.1 million) at a Sotheby's auction in New York. Nicknamed "Gus," the towering predator stands more than 12 feet (4 metres) tall and is regarded as one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever discovered, with more than 60% of its original bones recovered. The identity of the successful bidder has not yet been revealed. A remarkable prehistoric discoveryGus was unearthed on a remote ranch in South Dakota after being discovered in 2021. Excavation took place over three summer seasons between 2021 and 2023, with specialists only able to work when frozen ground had thawed. The painstaking restoration continued for another three years in the laboratory, where experts carefully reconstructed the giant predator bone by bone. Scientists found evidence that Gus had survived a violent life. The fossil bears healed rib fractures and bite marks on its skull, suggesting the dinosaur may have fought rivals or suffered injuries while scavenging for food before recovering. New world recordThe sale smashed the previous auction record for a dinosaur, set by the famous stegosaurus "Apex" in 2024, and marks the first dinosaur fossil ever to sell for more than $50 million. Sotheby's worldwide head of science and natural history, Cassandra Hatton, described the result as years in the making. "Gus is not only an exceptional find, but a specimen that's been excavated, documented, prepared and cared for with real excellence," she said. Scientists dividedThe record-breaking sale has reignited debate among palaeontologists, with some warning that soaring prices could place scientifically important fossils beyond the reach of museums and research institutions. Others argue that private investment helps fund costly excavations and preservation work that might otherwise never take place. There is also hope that the public will still be able to see Gus. The previous record-holder, Apex, was purchased by billionaire hedge fund manager Kenneth Griffin, who loaned the fossil to the American Museum of Natural History for public display. If the new owner follows a similar path, the world's most expensive dinosaur could eventually end up on exhibition for millions of visitors to enjoy. SOURCE
