A rare, 10-foot-tall dinosaur skeleton known as "Jodi" sold for $47.3 million (£35.5 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The specimen belongs to the Nanotyrannus genus, a carnivore from the Late Cretaceous period that researchers recently confirmed as a distinct species rather than a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex.
The auction follows a period of debate regarding the classification of Nanotyrannus. For decades, scientists disagreed over whether these smaller, slender fossils represented young T. rexes or a separate genus. In October 2025, U.S. researchers Lindsay Zanno and James Napoli published research classifying Nanotyrannus as a distinct species, based in part on the "Dueling Dinosaurs" fossil found in 2006.
"Jodi" was discovered by rancher Jodi Pierson on her land in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana and later excavated by commercial paleontologist Clayton Phipps. The skeleton includes 191 fossil-bone elements and a virtually complete skull. Sotheby’s reported that the specimen attracted six bidders during a 12-minute session, far exceeding the pre-sale estimate of at least $9 million.
The sale has reignited debate in the paleontology community, as the $47.3 million price point sets a market value that few public institutions can meet. Professor Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh stated that no museum or university he is aware of can afford such costs, noting that the sale of "Jodi"—one of only three Nanotyrannus skeletons known to science—could result in the specimen being held in private vaults rather than public galleries.
The scale of the transaction is significant within the fossil market, as "Jodi" now ranks as the second-most valuable dinosaur fossil ever sold. It follows the July record-setting sale of a T. rex named "Gus" for $50.1 million and the July 2024 sale of a Stegosaurus named "Apex" for $44.6 million. For perspective, the sale price for "Jodi" is more than five times the minimum pre-auction estimate. While paleontologist Megan Jenkins noted that many private fossils eventually reach the public eye, researchers express concern that high-value auctions could establish a trend that removes critical specimens from the scientific record.
The day-to-day impact for the public will depend on the currently undisclosed buyer's decision to either loan the skeleton to a museum or keep it in a private collection. If kept private, some scientists warn the specimen will be unavailable for peer-reviewed research. As of Tuesday's sale, no specific dates for public exhibition have been announced. The auction represents the first time a Nanotyrannus has come to market since its formal classification as a distinct genus last year.