A 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil was auctioned in New York for $50.1 million USD, or over 1.63 billion baht, setting a world record as the highest-priced dinosaur fossil ever sold.
On 15 July 2026 GMT+7, Sotheby's auction house in New York, USA, announced that a roughly 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil named "Gus" sold for $50.1 million USD, approximately 1.633 billion baht, establishing a record as the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever auctioned.
Sotheby's stated that "Gus" stands more than 4 meters tall and was discovered in 2021 on a remote cattle ranch in South Dakota, USA. Excavation took place over three summers from 2021 to 2023, followed by three years of assembly and restoration in the laboratory. It is considered one of the most complete T. rex fossils ever found, with experts recovering over 60% of the full skeleton. However, the identity of the auction winner has not been disclosed.
Researchers also found bite marks on Gus's skull, as well as ribs that had been broken and healed, suggesting injuries possibly from fighting other dinosaurs or from hunting.
Reports indicate that this auction price breaks the previous record held by a Stegosaurus fossil sold in 2024, marking the first time a dinosaur fossil has sold for more than $50 million USD at auction.
Experts view this auction as potentially marking a new era of fossil collecting by billionaires. However, it is possible that in the future, Gus's fossil may be displayed in a museum, similar to "Apex," the record-holding Stegosaurus fossil, which was loaned by its billionaire owner to the American Museum of Natural History for a four-year exhibition.
Source: BBC