Nanotyrannus Fossil Heads to New York Auction for £4.5M
WHO:
ABC News - The skeleton, nicknamed “Jodi,” was named after Montana rancher Jodi Pierson, who discovered it on her land.
ABC News - The buyer has chosen to remain anonymous after outbidding five other prospective buyers.
ABC News - Sotheby’s head of science and natural history Cassandra Hatton said the discovery and preservation efforts showed that “we can all make major contributions to science.”
BBC - A person whose name is not given said Nanotyrannus is real and expressed concern that the skeleton could end up in a collector’s vault rather than a museum.
BBC News - The scientific community is debating whether dinosaur remains should be held privately or made available for public view.
WHAT:
The Guardian - Sotheby’s said the skeleton comprises approximately 191 fossil bone elements.
The Guardian - Sotheby’s described Nanotyrannus as having more than 150 morphological differences from T. rex.
The Guardian - Sotheby’s said Jodi was the first substantial Nanotyrannus skeleton to come to market since the genus was confirmed.
ABC News - T. rex fossil “Gus” sold at Sotheby’s for a record $50.1 million, making it the most expensive dinosaur fossil sold at auction.
Observer - “Jodi” was shown at Frieze Masters in 2023 as a juvenile T. rex, with an asking price of $20 million.
Observer - The sale drew six bidders.
ABC News - Scientists say significant fossils such as “Jodi” should be displayed in museums or other institutions so researchers can study them and the public can view them.
ABC News - “Jodi” sold for $47.3 million, making it the second-priciest set of dinosaur bones ever sold; Sotheby’s had estimated a sale price of $6 million to $9 million.
ABC News - The skeleton is almost 70% complete, stands 6.5 feet tall, and stretches nearly 20 feet.
ABC News - Nanotyrannus was recently confirmed to be a distinct genus and a distant cousin of T. rex, rather than a juvenile T. rex.
ABC News - Nanotyrannus was about half the length of an adult T. rex and had longer forelimbs, larger hand claws, and more slender, blade-like teeth.
ABC News - Nanotyrannus and T. rex coexisted about 67 million years ago.
ABC News - “Jodi” is one of only three known Nanotyrannus skeletons.
ABC News - The live auction lasted about 12 minutes and involved bidding online and by phone.
ABC News - Professional fossil hunters’ discovery and excavation of the specimen were featured in the Discovery Channel documentary series “Dino Hunters.”
BBC - A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton is set to be auctioned, with a price tag of £4.5m.
BBC - The speaker called it “one of the best skeletons” and said it was “harrowing to think it could disappear into the vaults of a collector rather than displayed on a museum where it can wow and inspire kids and families and the public at large.”
BBC News - The auction is taking place amid debate about whether dinosaur remains should end up in private hands or be displayed publicly.
WHERE:
The Guardian - Jodi was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation in Garfield County, Montana, near Jordan, on privately owned land.
ABC News - The skeleton had been displayed at Sotheby’s upper Manhattan headquarters.
BBC - The auction is to take place in New York.
WHY:
The Guardian - Thomas R. Holtz Jr. said museums facing closure or financial pressure could benefit more from support than from spending on a single fossil; he estimated excavation, preparation and mounting for a skeleton like Jodi would cost at most about $1 million.
Observer - Fossils increasingly appearing in the international art market have prompted questions about speculation, scientific rights and the ethics of private ownership.
BBC - The speaker said public museum display could allow the skeleton to “wow and inspire kids and families and the public at large.”
HOW:
The Guardian - Thomas R. Holtz Jr. said private ownership could restrict public and scientific access to fossils, including researchers’ ability to measure bones, take samples and scans, and apply analytical procedures.
BBC - The skeleton is to be sold to the highest bidder.
(UPDATED October 28, 2026 02:01 UTC)
The rare Nanotyrannus skeleton “Jodi” sold for $47.3 million, far above Sotheby’s $6 million to $9 million estimate, making it the second-priciest dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction. Discovered on a Montana ranch and named for rancher Jodi Pierson, the nearly 70% complete skeleton is one of only three known Nanotyrannus specimens, a genus recently confirmed as distinct from T. rex. Its anonymous buyer has renewed debate over whether important fossils should remain privately owned or be displayed in museums, where scientists and the public can access them.
--
(UPDATED October 27, 2026 21:07 UTC)
A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton called “Jodi” sold for $47.3 million, far above Sotheby’s estimate of $6 million to $9 million, making it the second-priciest dinosaur fossil ever sold. One of only three known Nanotyrannus skeletons, Jodi is nearly 70% complete, and the species is now recognized as distinct from T. rex rather than a juvenile; an anonymous buyer won the auction after competing with five others. The sale has intensified debate over whether significant fossils belong in private collections or should be displayed in museums, where scientists can study them and the public can see them.
--
(UPDATED October 27, 2026 20:06 UTC)
A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton nicknamed Jodi sold for $47.3 million, making it the second-priciest set of dinosaur bones ever auctioned—far above Sotheby’s estimate of $6 million to $9 million. Discovered on Montana rancher Jodi Pierson’s land, the nearly 70%-complete skeleton is one of only three known and belongs to a species recently confirmed as distinct from T. rex. The anonymous buyer outbid five others as the sale renewed debate over whether major fossils should go to private collectors or be displayed in museums for the public.
--
(UPDATED October 27, 2026 16:12 UTC)
A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton is set to be auctioned to the highest bidder in New York, with a price tag of £4.5 million. The sale is fueling debate over whether dinosaur remains belong in private collections or should be available for public view. One person said Nanotyrannus is real and called the skeleton one of the best, warning it could end up in a collector’s vault instead of inspiring children and families in a museum.