A rare dinosaur fossil auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York has fetched a staggering $30.5 million, far surpassing expectations and setting a new benchmark for private fossil sales. The Ceratosaurus specimen, one of only four known examples, drew intense interest from collectors during a six-minute bidding war involving six participants.
Sotheby’s explained that the fossil is the only juvenile Ceratosaurus discovered and stands as one of the most complete and best-preserved skeletons of its kind. It was initially valued between $4 million and $6 million.
The carnivorous dinosaur Ceratosaurus nasicornis lived approximately 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period. Known for its pronounced nasal horn, sharp teeth, and rows of bony armor along its back and tail, the predator has long captured the imagination of paleontologists and enthusiasts alike.
The juvenile specimen stands just over 6 feet tall and stretches nearly 11 feet in length. It includes 139 fossilized bone elements, 57 of which make up a nearly-intact skull, according to Sotheby’s. The fossil was first unearthed in 1996 at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming, a site rich in Jurassic-era remains.
Public display and future plans for the fossil
From 2000 to 2024, the fossil was displayed at the Museum of Ancient Life in Thanksgiving Point, Utah. Despite its long presence in public view, it has not yet been formally analyzed or described in a scientific journal. Sotheby’s stated that the buyer, who remains anonymous, intends to loan the specimen to a scientific institution for display and research.
The only known juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil just sold in the #SothebysNewYork sale room for a staggering $30.5 million, making it the third most valuable dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction. #AuctionUpdate
The Natural History sale continues LIVE: https://t.co/VFFgQ4UVDB pic.twitter.com/f0BlXrWwkZ
— Sotheby’s (@Sothebys) July 16, 2025
The auction also featured the sale of a Martian meteorite, the largest known piece of Mars found on Earth. That specimen sold for $5.3 million.
Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and natural history, said the results reflect enduring interest in Earth’s deep past and outer space. She noted that collectors are often driven not only by scientific appreciation but also by a broader curiosity about the natural forces that shaped the planet and the cosmos.
Experts weigh in on growing fossil market
Mark Westgarth, a professor of art market history at the University of Leeds, described the sale as part of a growing global trend. He pointed to Sotheby’s 2024 sale of Apex the Stegosaur, which set a fossil record at $44.6 million. Westgarth believes a desire for rare, visually striking objects that convey status and fascination fuels these sales.
However, some scientists have voiced concern. Steve Brusatte, a paleontology professor at the University of Edinburgh, questioned whether such high prices threaten public access. He said institutions and museums rarely have the funding to compete in such markets.
Brusatte acknowledged the buyer’s plan to loan the fossil to a museum but said the promise is vague and unverifiable. He warned that valuable fossils like this one could disappear into private collections or storage vaults, removed from both public and academic view.
Westgarth, however, argued that commercial fossil markets can support science. He cited 19th-century fossil hunter Mary Anning, whose sales to collectors helped spark early paleontological research. He added that if the new owner follows through on the museum loan, the Ceratosaurus could contribute to research and public education in the coming years.
