The Most Expensive Dinosaurs Ever Sold, as $45M Stegosaurus Shown in NY

A Stegosaurus specimen that became the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold earlier this year is now on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. But it is not the only dinosaur fossil to have sold for staggering amounts. The 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus skeleton, known as Apex, sold for $44.6 million at an auction hosted by Sotheby's. Mounted in a defensive pose, with its spiked tail raised in the air, the dinosaur stands around 11.5 feet tall and measures roughly 27 feet in length. The extraordinary specimen, thought to be one of the largest and most complete Stegosaurus skeletons ever found, was discovered by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper in 2022 on his property just outside the town of Dinosaur, Colorado. Stegosaurus is a type of large, herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, known for its distinctive double row of kite-shaped plates along its back and spiked tail. Apex is particularly well-preserved example of these dinosaurs, with the skeleton featuring more than 254 bone elements out of a total of around 320. Missing bones have been filled in using 3D-printed and sculpted components.

The fossil skeleton exceeded its pre-sale low estimate by more than 11 times at auction, which took place in New York in July. Seven bidders went toe to toe trying to secure the purchase. The specimen was eventually sold to billionaire hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin, who has since loaned the fossil to the natural history museum. The sale surpassed the previous record for a dinosaur fossil sale by some distance. Below are some of the other most valuable specimens ever sold.

Stan the T. rex - $31.8 million (2020)

Stan, a remarkably complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, sold for $31.8 million at a Christie's auction in 2020, setting a world record for any dinosaur fossil at the time. The skeleton is more than 39 feet long and has been widely studied by paleontologists. Its location remained a mystery for two years until trade records revealed that it had been exported to the United Arab Emirates, awaiting the anticipated opening of the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum.

Hector the Deinonychus - $12.4 million (2022)

This skeleton of a Deinonychus—a group of agile, carnivorous dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous period (145-100.5 million years ago) known for its sickle-shaped claws on each hind foot—fetched $12.4 million at a Sotheby's auction in 2022. Though smaller than T. rex, its rarity and pop culture association—these dinosaurs inspired the portrayal of the Velociraptors in the Jurassic Park book—made it a highly sought-after specimen.

Sue the T. rex - $8.36 million (1997)

Sue is one of the most famous and well-preserved T. rex specimens ever found. Discovered in 1990 in South Dakota, it was purchased by the Field Museum in Chicago in 1997 for $8.36 million with support from companies like McDonald's and Disney. The 40-foot-long specimen—one of the largest T. rex skeletons ever found—remains a centerpiece of the museum's collection.

Triceratops "Big John" - $7.7 million (2021)

Big John, thought to be the largest known Triceratops skeleton, was sold at an auction in Paris for $7.7 million to Tampa-based entrepreneurial couple Sidd and Ami Pagidipati in 2021. They later loaned it to the Glazer Children's Museum in Tampa where it is on display. This specimen of the iconic dinosaur is more than 66 million years old and measures around 26 feet in length. Triceratops is a large, herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period (100.5-66 million years ago). It is recognizable by its three facial horns, the large frill at the back of its head and its role as one of the last iconic dinosaurs to live before the infamous mass extinction event.

Gorgosaurus - $6.1 million (2022)

A Gorgosaurus skeleton sold for $6.1 million at Sotheby's in 2022. The sale was notable because it represented the first specimen of its kind to go up for private auction—most Gorgosaurus fossils reside in museums. Gorgosaurus is a tyrannosaurid belonging to the same wider group as T. rex that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. It was a large, bipedal predator that could reach up to around 30 feet in length. Do you have an animal or nature story to share with Newsweek? Do you have a question about paleontology? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.