Nanotyrannus Skeleton 'Jodi' Sells for $47.3 Million to Anonymous Buyer
The fossil, discovered by a Montana rancher in 2019, exceeded Sotheby's high estimate by more than five million dollars.
By Luka Evans ·
A 6.5-foot tall dinosaur skeleton named 'Jodi' sold for $47.3 million at a New York City auction house on Tuesday. The price makes the specimen the second most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold. The top spot currently belongs to a T. rex named 'Gus,' which fetched $50.1 million earlier this year.
The Nanotyrannus skeleton was displayed at Sotheby's upper Manhattan headquarters for several weeks before the sale. It is nearly 70 percent complete and stretches almost 20 feet in length. The creature stood about half the height of an adult T. rex and lived during the Cretaceous period approximately 67 million years ago. Unlike its larger cousin, the Nanotyrannus possessed longer forelimbs, larger hand claws, and more slender teeth.
The scientific community spent decades debating the identity of the Nanotyrannus. Researchers previously believed the specimens were simply juvenile T. rex. A study published last year settled the debate by confirming that the Nanotyrannus is a distinct genus of dinosaur. This new classification adds to the rarity of the find, as 'Jodi' is one of only three such skeletons known to exist.
The fossil was found in 2019 by Jodi Pierson, a Montana rancher, on her property. A team of professional fossil hunters excavated the specimen. Their work was featured in the 2020 Discovery Channel documentary series 'Dino Hunters.' Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's head of science and natural history, credited the team's efforts in a statement. She noted that their commitment to preserving the specimen helped bring the auction to this moment.
Five other bidders competed against the winner during the 12-minute live auction. The sale took place both online and over the phone. Sotheby's initially projected the skeleton would sell for between $6 million and $9 million. The final hammer price exceeded the high end of that estimate by more than 400 percent.
The new owner of 'Jodi' has chosen to remain anonymous for the time being. Some scientists have expressed concern over private sales of major fossils. They argue that specimens like 'Jodi' belong in museums where researchers can study them and the public can view them. The debate over the best home for such artifacts continues as the skeleton changes hands.
The transaction marks a major financial event in the paleontology market. The sale price reflects the growing value placed on rare and complete dinosaur specimens. 'Jodi' will now join a small group of high-profile fossils owned by private collectors rather than public institutions.
