One of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever found is set to be auctioned by Sotheby's in New York on Tuesday, with expectations that it could fetch up to $30 million.
The specimen, nicknamed "Gus", is believed to be around 67 million years old and stands roughly 3.8 metres tall, with a length of about 11.6 metres and a skull measuring 137 centimetres. Its skeleton is approximately 61 per cent complete and contains no parts sourced from other specimens, a rarity among dinosaur fossils. The estimated sale price ranges between $20 million and $30 million.
Gus was discovered in 2021 on a ranch in Harding County, South Dakota, by Theropoda Expeditions with permission from landowner Gary "Gus" Licking, and was excavated over three years. The current auction record for a dinosaur fossil stands at $44.6 million, set by a stegosaurus named Apex sold by Sotheby's in 2024.