Sotheby's New York will auction a 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil named Gus on July 14, with an estimated value of $20–$30 million—the highest estimate ever placed on a dinosaur skeleton. The specimen, discovered in Harding County, South Dakota, on land owned by the late rancher Gary "Gus" Licking, is approximately 63 percent complete with 183 fossil bone elements, including a well-preserved skull and rare humeri. Excavated over three summers from 2021 to 2023, Gus is comparable in size and integrity to only two other T. rex fossils that have come to market: Stan and Sue.
The sale underscores the booming market for dinosaur fossils, which has seen record-breaking prices in recent years, including the $44 million sale of the Stegosaurus Apex in 2024 and the $31.8 million sale of Stan in 2020. Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice-chairman and worldwide head of science and natural history, noted that the market is broadening, with interest from U.S. museums and international collectors. The auction highlights the growing intersection of paleontology and the art market, raising questions about scientific access versus private ownership of such rare specimens.