The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology is the global home for vertebrate paleontologists, advancing science and standards since 1940. Gus the T. rex sold for $50.1 million, illustrating fossil markets' surge and the SVP’s ongoing relevance to taxonomy, ethics, and public stewardship.
Sotheby’s has sold a 67‑million‑year‑old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed “Gus” for $50.1 million, the highest price ever paid for a dinosaur at auction. The specimen, about 61–63% complete, was excavated in South Dakota from 2021–23; scientists are warning that private ownership will restrict research access.