SIOUX FALLS — A nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex recovered from private land in northwestern South Dakota sold at auction in New York for $50.13 million, according to news reports Tuesday. The specimen, nicknamed "Gus," is a 38-foot mounted skeleton composed of 183 bones and has drawn attention to the Hell Creek Formation, a region long known for major dinosaur finds.
From Harding County to Sotheby’s
The fossil was excavated in 2021 from private property owned by Gary and Dana Licking in Harding County. It reached the auction block at Sotheby’s after preparation and study, and a private buyer purchased the mounted skeleton for a figure that exceeded the auction house’s initial estimate of roughly $20 million to $30 million.
- Sale price: $50.13 million
- Length: 38 feet
- Number of bones: 183
- Discovery year: 2021
- Excavation site: Harding County, S.D.
Why the find matters
The Hell Creek Formation spans parts of northwestern South Dakota and adjacent states and has produced several well-known specimens. South Dakota’s fossil record has helped museums and researchers study the last ecosystems of the Cretaceous period. The newly sold specimen drew scrutiny and interest because of its relative completeness and the preserved damage to bones that may record interactions with other large predators.
"This is a very good skeleton and skull that has plenty of evidence of scars and injuries," said Peter Larson, president of the Black Hills Institute and one of the researchers involved with the specimen. "This evidence is basically a snapshot of a moment in time where it was potentially bitten by another T-rex or maybe tripped and broke a bone."
Larson noted researchers had ample opportunity to examine the fossil before it went to auction.
Local context and unanswered questions
The sale again raises familiar issues: who owns fossils found on private land, how scientific study is balanced with private sales, and where important specimens ultimately end up. South Dakota has seen high-profile finds before; the famous T. rex known as "Sue" was also recovered in the region and later sold at auction in the 1990s.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Gus |
| Sale venue | Sotheby’s (New York) |
| Original landowners | Gary and Dana Licking |
State residents and institutions may watch closely for any public disclosures about the buyer’s plans for display or further research. For now, the sale underscores the continuing global market for high-profile fossils and highlights South Dakota’s place in the scientific and commercial story of dinosaur discoveries.
