local
Rare T. rex fossil sells for record $50.1 million at auction
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 14, 2026
· 3 min read
By Jacopo Prisco, CNN
(CNN) — A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton from South Dakota has become the world’s most expensive fossil sold at auction, after fetching a record $50,130,000 at Sotheby’s in New York Tuesday.
The skeleton, which is about 67 million years old, is nicknamed Gus after the late G...
Key takeaway The skeleton, which is about 67 million years old, is nicknamed Gus after the late Gary ‘Gus’ Licking, a cattle rancher from Harding County, South Dakota, who owned the land where the specimen was found.
Why this matters in The El Paso
In the El Paso community, the sale of the T. rex fossil nicknamed Gus for a record $50.1 million may seem like a distant event, but it has implications for local science enthusiasts and educators. The fact that Gus is now in private hands raises concerns that it may be lost to science, as it will not be available for study and research in publicly accessible collections. This is a concern for El Paso's own educational institutions, which may have been interested in studying or exhibiting such a significant fossil. The loss of access to Gus may also limit opportunities for local students and researchers to learn from and contribute to the field of paleontology. As El Paso continues to grow and develop its own scientific and cultural resources, the sale of Gus serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and accessing scientific discoveries for the benefit of the broader community.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 14, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 3 min
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What is this story about? By Jacopo Prisco, CNN
(CNN) — A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton from South Dakota has become the world’s most expensive fossil sold at auction, after fetching a record $50,130,000 at Sotheby’s in New York Tuesday.
The skeleton, which is about 67 million years old, is nicknamed Gus after the late G...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 14, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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