One of only four Ceratosaurus skeletons known to exist sold for $30.51 million at Sotheby’s on Wednesday to become the third-most valuable dinosaur fossil to sell at public auction.
Highlighted by a “virtually complete skull” of 57 fossil bone elements, the skeleton measures 6-foot-3 in height and 10-8 in length. Featuring 139 original fossil bone elements in total, the skeleton is “exhibition-ready mounted” in an action pose with its jaws open.
Originally excavated on private land in Wyoming, the skeleton was later acquired by the Museum of Ancient Life in Utah. The skeleton was acquired by fossil preparation company Fossilogic in 2024 prior to selling at auction.
According to Sotheby’s, the Ceratosaurus is a “standout favorite among dinosaur enthusiasts" as a predator with a distinctive nasal horn, elongated teeth and bony armor on its back and tail. Of the four Ceratosaurus fossils believed to exist, the example sold at Sotheby’s is the only juvenile. This specimen is believed to be from the Kimmeridgian Stage of the Jurassic, approximately between 154 and 149 million years ago.
The final auction result easily eclipsed the pre-sale estimate of $4 million to $6 million.
The most expensive sale of any dinosaur fossil to date is the $44.6 million paid for a Stegosaurus skeleton at Sotheby’s in July 2024. The Stegosaurus, named Apex, was reportedly purchased by Citadel CEO Ken Griffin.
The second-most valuable dinosaur fossil sold at Christie’s in October 2020 when a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named Stan fetched $31.8 million.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the Collectibles Editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.