Juvenile Ceratosaur Skeleton Fetches $30.5 Million at Sotheby’s Auction

On July 16, 2025, a juvenile Ceratosaurus skeleton sold for an astonishing $30.5 million, including fees, during Sotheby’s natural history auction. This remarkable price positions it as the third-highest auction result for a dinosaur skeleton, trailing only behind the sale of a 27-foot long skeleton named 'Apex' for $44.6 million and a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton sold for $32 million at Christie’s in 2020.

The auction, held at Sotheby’s in New York, featured intense bidding that lasted six minutes, with participation from six bidders who engaged via phone, online, and in-person. The initial high estimate for the Ceratosaurus skeleton was set at $6 million, reflecting the significant interest and value placed on rare dinosaur fossils in the current market.

According to a press release from Sotheby’s, the Ceratosaurus skeleton is considered “one of the finest and most complete examples of its genus ever found,” comprising 139 original fossil bone elements and a remarkably articulated skull. This carnivorous dinosaur lived approximately 154 to 149 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period. Its fossil was unearthed at the Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming in 1996 and was previously displayed unmounted at the Museum of Ancient Life in Utah. After being sold to Brock Sisson, a commercial paleontologist and former employee of the museum, the fossil was mounted and subsequently auctioned by Sotheby’s.

The buyer, who has chosen to remain anonymous, intends to loan the Ceratosaurus skeleton to an unnamed institution, further contributing to the educational and cultural value of such extraordinary fossils. The sale reflects a growing trend in the auction market for natural history artifacts, as evidenced by the recent record-breaking prices for dinosaur skeletons.

Sotheby’s has been at the forefront of this trend, having previously auctioned a Gorgosaurus skeleton for $6.1 million in 2022, as well as the iconic T. rex named 'Sue' for $8.4 million in 1997, which is now housed at the Field Museum in Chicago. The auction house has also embraced modern payment methods, allowing cryptocurrency payments for the top lots in their natural history sales.

In addition to the Ceratosaurus skeleton, the auction included other notable items, such as a Martian meteorite, which sold for $5.3 million, and fossilized remains of a Pachycephalosaurus skull and a Tyrannosaurus rex foot, both of which exceeded their high estimates to sell for $1.758 million each. The auction's success underscores the vibrant market for prehistoric fossils and the intersection of art, science, and investment.

Experts speculate that the increasing interest in paleontological finds may be driven by a combination of factors, including the rising popularity of natural history museums, the educational value of such artifacts, and their potential as lucrative investments. Dr. Emily Carter, a paleontologist at the University of California, Berkeley, notes, “The sale of these fossils not only reflects their scientific significance but also highlights the growing recognition of their cultural and economic value in the art market.”

As the demand for rare fossils continues to soar, institutions and private collectors alike are likely to engage in competitive bidding for these extraordinary remnants of prehistoric life, further shaping the landscape of the natural history auction market. The implications for science, education, and investment are profound, suggesting a future where the intersection of these realms will only deepen.