NewsABC7 News San Francisco (KGO-TV)October 28, 2026San Francisco County
Nanotyrannus fossil 'Jodi' sells for $47.3 million at Sotheby's auction
Photo: ABC7 News San Francisco (KGO-TV)
A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton nicknamed "Jodi" sold for $47.3 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York City, far exceeding the expected $6 to $9 million estimate. The 12-minute live auction involved five prospective bidders and ended with a mystery buyer purchasing the fossil, which is now the second-priciest set of dinosaur bones ever sold.
Read the full story at ABC7 News San Francisco (KGO-TV)Why It Matters
Private sales of rare fossils like Jodi spark ongoing debate among scientists over whether scientifically significant specimens should be housed in public museums for research rather than sold to anonymous private collectors.
Key Facts
- A rare Nanotyrannus skeleton named "Jodi" sold for $47.3 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York City.
- The auction house had originally estimated the fossil would fetch between $6 and $9 million.
- The sale makes Jodi the second-priciest set of dinosaur bones ever sold, following the $50.1 million sale of a T. rex named "Gus" earlier in the summer.
- The buyer of Jodi chose to remain anonymous after winning against five other bidders during a 12-minute live auction.
- Jodi stands 9 feet 6 inches tall, stretches nearly 20 feet, and is considered almost 70% complete.
- The skeleton is one of only three known Nanotyrannus specimens to exist.
- The dinosaur was discovered in 2019 by Montana rancher Jodi Pierson on her land.
- The excavation efforts were featured in the 2020 Discovery Channel documentary series "Dino Hunters."
- Some scientists oppose private sales of significant fossils, arguing they should be housed in museums for public viewing and research.
- Recent research published last year confirmed that Nanotyrannus is a distinct genus of dinosaur rather than a juvenile T. rex.
Who's Mentioned
PersonJodi Pierson“Montana rancher who discovered the dinosaur fossil on her land in 2019”locationNew York City“Location of the auction and Sotheby's headquarters”otherDino Hunters“Documentary series focusing on the excavation of the specimen”otherGus“T. rex fossil sold earlier this summer for a record $50.1 million”PersonCassandra Hatton“Sotheby's head of science and natural history”OrganizationTyrannosaurus rex“Famous dinosaur species related to Nanotyrannus”locationMontana“State where the fossil was discovered”OrganizationSotheby's“Auction house that conducted the sale in New York City”OrganizationNanotyrannus“Rare dinosaur species confirmed to be a distant cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex”otherCretaceous period“Geological time period when Nanotyrannus and T. rex coexisted”otherJodi“Nickname of the Nanotyrannus fossil skeleton sold at auction”locationManhattan“Borough in New York where the fossil was on display”OrganizationDiscovery Channel“Television network that aired the documentary series "Dino Hunters"”