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Rare T. rex fossil sells for record $50.1 million at auction
By Jacopo Prisco at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News
· July 14, 2026
· 3 min read
A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton from South Dakota has become the worlds most expensive fossil sold at auction, after fetching a record $50,130,000 at Sothebys in New York Tuesday.The skeleton, which is about 67 million years old, is nicknamed Gus after the late Gary Gus Licking, a cattle rancher fro...
Key takeaway The skeleton, which is about 67 million years old, is nicknamed Gus after the late Gary Gus Licking, a cattle rancher from Harding County, South Dakota, who owned the land where the specimen was found.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The record-breaking sale of the T. rex fossil, Gus, has significant implications for the scientific community in Detroit . As paleontologists worry that fossils in private hands are lost to science, local researchers and students may miss out on opportunities to study and learn from such significant discoveries. Detroit's own scientific institutions and universities may have been interested in accessing Gus for research and educational purposes, but now that opportunity seems unlikely. The sale also raises questions about the role of private collectors in the field of paleontology and how it affects the advancement of knowledge in the Detroit area. With the fossil now in private hands, it is uncertain whether local scientists will have access to it, potentially hindering the progress of research and education in the field of paleontology in Detroit.
About this story
Original reporting by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 14, 2026 ·
Source: WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton from South Dakota has become the worlds most expensive fossil sold at auction, after fetching a record $50,130,000 at Sothebys in New York Tuesday.The skeleton, which is about 67 million years old, is nicknamed Gus after the late Gary Gus Licking, a cattle rancher fro...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 14, 2026 by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jacopo Prisco at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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