Gigantic T. Rex to Star in Sotheby’s Geek Week
Nicknamed ”Gus,” the 38-foot-long dinosaur skeleton is among the largest and most complete ever found and could set a new auction record
It was born some 67 million years ago, grew up to presumably devour many smaller creatures, and is now set to be auctioned off for an estimated $20–30 million at Sotheby’s. The set of Tyrannosaurus rex bones affectionately dubbed “Gus” once roamed the land now known as South Dakota, where it was found on the ranch of Gary “Gus” Licking. This particular T. rex skeleton is over 63 percent complete, making it one of the most perfect specimens to ever come to auction.
While the T. rex is an icon of children’s books and popular culture, its reputation rests on a mere 32 discovered examples, only two of which have been as complete as “Gus.” Assembling the T. rex was a six-year job. “It really does feel like tackling the world’s hardest puzzle, except we have to find all the pieces first,” said excavator Thomas Heitkamp. “All those bones separated for 67 million years that we can now, almost magically, fit back together.”
This T. rex boasts a remarkably well-preserved skull with over 82 percent of its bones present. Several of the skull bones even display bite marks. Did “Gus” survive an altercation with an even larger creature?
The current record for dinosaur bones at auction is held by “Apex,” a stegosaurus sold by Sotheby’s two years ago for $44.6 million. “Apex” is currently on a long-term loan to the American Museum of Natural History. The auction record for the most expensive set of T. rex bones is $31.8 million, set by “Stan” at Christie’s in 2020. “Gus is the culmination of years of rigorous excavation and preparation under some of the most challenging field conditions imaginable, and years of exacting study, documentation, and research,” says Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s Vice-Chairman of Science & Natural History. “Tyrannosaurus rex is the most iconic prehistoric species in the fossil record, and Gus stands firmly among the greatest examples ever found.”
“Gus” is the linchpin of Sotheby’s Geek Week, three annual science-themed auctions that offer a fun summer moment for New Yorkers. Previous Geek Week auctions included the sale of Buzz Aldrin’s space artifacts. But the dinosaur is nearly always the highlight.
“Gus” will be displayed at Sotheby’s New York July 1–14, 2026.