US billionaire purchases stegosaurus skeleton for record-breaking $44.6 million
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Billionaire investor Ken Griffin, the founder and CEO of hedge fund Citadel, has made headlines by purchasing the largest and most intact stegosaurus skeleton ever found for a staggering $44.6 million.
This acquisition, made through Sotheby's auction, sets a new record for the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction.
The colossal skeleton, named "Apex," was unearthed in May 2022 near Dinosaur, Colorado, by palaeontologist Jason Cooper. Estimated to be 150 million years old, Apex stands 11 feet (3.3 meters) tall and measures 27 feet (8.2 meters) in length. With 254 of its 319 bones preserved, Apex is considered nearly complete and the largest stegosaurus ever discovered.
Griffin outbid six other contenders in a heated 15-minute auction, securing the skeleton for $44.6 million, a price far exceeding the initial estimate of $6 million. This sale, 11 times the lower estimate, marks a significant milestone in the auction of dinosaur fossils, reported Reuters.
"Apex truly lived up to its name today, inspiring bidders from around the world and becoming the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction," said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's global head of science and popular culture. She highlighted the meticulous collaboration with Jason Cooper from the moment of Apex's discovery to its sale in New York.
Ken Griffin, whose net worth is estimated at $37.8 billion according to Forbes, is known for his philanthropic efforts and significant contributions to the Republican party. Rather than adding Apex to his private collection, Griffin plans to loan the skeleton to institutions across the United States. "Apex was born in America and is going to stay in America!" he proclaimed after the sale, reported CBS News.
In a similar philanthropic gesture in 2017, Griffin donated $16.5 million to Chicago's Field Museum to fund an exhibit featuring the largest tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered. His latest purchase continues his tradition of supporting scientific and cultural institutions.
