Dinosaur Fossil Named Jodi Sold for $47.3 Million in New York

A roughly 67-million-year-old dinosaur fossil named "Jodi" was sold for $47.3 million at an auction held by Sotheby's in New York, becoming the second most expensive dinosaur fossil in history.

The sale of the approximately 3-meter-tall fossil took place about a year after researchers confirmed that the skeleton belongs to a distinct genus. Six buyers participated in the auction, and following a 12-minute bidding war, the fossil was sold for $47.3 million. The identity of the buyer who purchased Jodi was not disclosed.

Sotheby's described Jodi as a complete skeleton consisting of approximately 191 fossilized bone pieces ready for display, noting that the skull is also beautifully preserved and nearly complete.

With its sale price, Jodi took the title of the second most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction. At the top of the list is a T-rex fossil named Gus, which sold for $50.1 million, while an Apex Stegosaurus that fetched $44.6 million ranks third. Additionally, Jodi holds the distinction of being one of only three known fossils belonging to the Nanotyrannus species.