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Rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction for $47.3 million, becoming second most valuable fossil ever

A rare 67-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton named Jodi fetched $47.3 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York. Six competing bidders drove up the price during a 12-minute battle, making the specimen the second most valuable fossil ever sold at auction. An anonymous buyer purchased the remains, which physically resemble a miniature Tyrannosaurus rex. The high-profile transaction has intensified ongoing discussions among scientists and collectors regarding private fossil ownership and access to scientifically significant specimens.

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  • ✓ A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton named Jodi sold for $47.3 million at Sotheby's in New York.
  • ✓ The sale makes Jodi the second most valuable dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction.
  • ✓ Montana rancher Jodi Pierson discovered the fossil on her property in 2019.
  • ✓ The skeleton was buried in the Hell Creek Formation and dates back 67 million years.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 15 independent reporting domains (100% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

The rare dinosaur skeleton known as Jodi sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York for $47.3 million.

Live updates

  1. Rare Nanotyrannus Fossil Sells for $47.3 Million

    A rare 67-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton named Jodi fetched $47.3 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York. Six competing bidders drove up the price during a 12-minute battle, making the specimen the second most valuable fossil ever sold at auction. An anonymous buyer purchased the remains, which physically resemble a miniature Tyrannosaurus rex. The high-profile transaction has intensified ongoing discussions among scientists and collectors regarding private fossil ownership and access to scientifically significant specimens.

    Why it matters

    Montana rancher Jodi Pierson discovered the skeleton on her property in 2019 within the Hell Creek Formation. The specimen previously sparked extensive academic debates over whether such fossils represent a distinct genus named Nanotyrannus or merely juvenile Tyrannosaurus rexes. Sotheby's offered the exceptionally preserved skeleton, which includes a nearly complete skull, teeth, and claws.

    What is confirmed

    • A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton named Jodi sold for $47.3 million at Sotheby's in New York.
    • The sale makes Jodi the second most valuable dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction.
    • Montana rancher Jodi Pierson discovered the fossil on her property in 2019.
    • The skeleton was buried in the Hell Creek Formation and dates back 67 million years.
    • Six bidders participated in a 12-minute bidding war for the specimen.

    Still unconfirmed

    • An anonymous buyer purchased the dinosaur skeleton.

    What to watch next

    • Whether the anonymous buyer will grant scientists access to study the fossil
    • Further academic publications regarding the Nanotyrannus versus juvenile T. rex debate
    Sources used for this update (16)
    1. CNN — Rare Nanotyrannus sells at auction for $47.3 million, becoming second most valuable fossil ever
    2. AP News — A dinosaur fossil that looks like a mini T. rex just sold for a giant $47 million
    3. FOX Weather — Second most valuable dinosaur fossil in the world is sold for over $47 million
    4. The New York Times — ‘Jodi,’ a Nanotyrannus Skeleton, Gets $47.3 Million at Auction
    5. KTVQ — Rare dinosaur skeleton discovered in Montana sells for $47 million at auction
    6. www.livemint.com — Meet Nanotyrannus Jodi: Auction - The rare dinosaur once ...
    7. www.yahoo.com — Rare Nanotyrannus skeleton 'Jodi' sells for $47.3M - Yahoo
    8. www.foxweather.com — The second most valuable dinosaur fossil sells at auction for ...
    9. www.dailysabah.com — Rare Nanotyrannus fossil sells for $47.3M at New York auction
    10. news.jkn.co.kr — Rare Nanotyrannus Skeleton Fetches $47.3 Million at Sotheby's ...
    11. worldart.news — Jodi Nanotyrannus Sells for US$47.3 Million at Sotheby’s
    12. www.bozemandailychronicle.com — Rare Montana-found dino fossil takes $47.3 million at auction
    confidence 100%
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