Colossal T. rex 'Gus' roars to auction with $30 million estimate

A nearly 38-foot Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named "Gus" is headed to auction at Sotheby's in New York with a pre-sale estimate of $20 million to $30 million.

The mounted skeleton, from the Late Cretaceous period about 67 million years ago, was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation in Harding County, South Dakota. Gus is approximately 61% complete by bone count, with 183 fossil bone elements and 30 gastralia, or belly ribs, according to the auction house.

"Gus is one of the biggest and most complete T. rex ever found," said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice chairman and global head of science and natural history.

The skeleton measures about 38 feet in body length and rises 12.5 feet tall. Its skull is about 54 inches long and about 82% represented, including all six tooth-bearing jaw elements. Sotheby's says it also has rare upper forelimb bones, a rare furcula, a complete pelvis and substantial fossil material from both feet.

"The completeness, the quality, the size, the preservation," Hatton said of what makes Gus stand out.

Gus was excavated over field seasons in 2021, 2022 and 2023 on private land owned by the late Gary "Gus" Licking, a cattle rancher in Harding County. The fossil was named in his honor.

Hatton said the sale includes copyright, giving the buyer rights connected to reproductions.

"This will be the first time that a T. rex has come to auction where you have that full package," Hatton said.

Sotheby's Natural History sale is part of Geek Week 2026, which will feature three live auctions from July 1 to July 15 spanning natural history, space exploration and the history of science and technology.

Camera: Andrew Hofstetter; Production, Editing, Writing: Roselle Chen/Reuters