A nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” sells for $50.1 million at Sotheby’s in New York, setting a record for the most expensive dinosaur fossil sold at auction. Multiple outlets report that Sotheby’s auction results place the sale above the prior record for a T. rex fossil, with some noting it reaches $50 million-level pricing after competitive bidding. Coverage describes the specimen as about 67 million years old and one of the more complete T. rex skeletons, citing a total of 183 fossilized bones. Reports also say the fossil was discovered in South Dakota on private land, where it was found on a cattle ranch in 2021. The buyer is described as a mystery bidder by some outlets, and the final purchaser is not publicly identified. Several sources link the sale to broader debates about fossil ownership and access to scientific research, noting that in the United States fossils found on private land are generally owned by the landowner and can be traded, unlike in some countries where major fossils are state property. Scientists and observers are therefore concerned about whether the specimen will be available for research after the auction.