Dead dinosaur costs more than a house

Did you know that a dead dinosaur can cost more than a big house? Meet Gus—a T. rex fossil that just became the most expensive dinosaur skeleton ever sold.

Gus lived 67 million years ago. That was a very, very long time ago. Today, a team of scientists and fossil hunters found his bones in the ground. They carefully dug up the skeleton. Then they cleaned it and studied it. The bones were in great condition. That made Gus very special and very valuable.

When Gus went up for sale, people got excited. Museums wanted to buy him. Private collectors wanted to buy him. Everyone knew this fossil was rare. The price went up and up and up. Finally, someone paid an enormous amount of money for Gus. The final price beat the old record.

Earlier in 2024, a stegosaurus fossil sold for a lot of money. Everyone thought that was the highest price ever. But Gus cost even more! Scientists were surprised. The price showed how much people value these ancient bones.

Why do people pay so much for dinosaur fossils? One reason is simple: dinosaurs are amazing. Another reason is that good fossils are hard to find. Gus's bones were almost complete. That is very rare. Complete skeletons help scientists learn new things about how dinosaurs lived and moved.

Today, Gus is famous. People all over the world know his name. He might go to a museum soon. Millions of visitors will see him. Children will stand in front of Gus and imagine life 67 million years ago. Do you think seeing a real dinosaur skeleton would change how you feel about ancient animals?

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.