Nanotyrannus Skeleton 'Jodi' Sells for $47.3M at New York Auction

Sotheby's auction house in New York City sold the Nanotyrannus skeleton 'Jodi' for $47.3 million to a mystery buyer on Tuesday.

The $47.3M price shattered expectations of $6‑9M, making it the second‑most expensive dinosaur fossil after the 'Gus' T. rex, which fetched $50.1M earlier this summer.

Standing 6.5 feet tall and nearly 20 feet long, the nearly 70% complete specimen was discovered by Montana rancher Jodi Pierson in 2019 on her property and has been on display at Sotheby's Manhattan headquarters since early this month.

Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's head of science, praised the excavators and said, "Their commitment to understanding and preserving this remarkable specimen has helped bring us to this moment, a testament to the fact that we can all make major contributions to science."

Some paleontologists argue that such private sales deprive the public and researchers of access, calling for museum display of 'Jodi'.

Until the buyer reveals their intentions, the fossil's future location remains unknown, leaving the scientific community awaiting further disclosure.