Record-Breaking $44.6M Stegosaurus Fossil 'Apex' Debuts at NYC Museum

The nearly complete 150-million-year-old skeleton, purchased by billionaire Ken Griffin, will be displayed for four years at the American Museum of Natural History.

Apex, the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold, was purchased for $44.6 million at a Sotheby’s auction in July 2024 by billionaire Ken Griffin.
The 27-foot-long, 11-foot-tall Stegosaurus is nearly 80% complete, making it one of the largest and best-preserved specimens of its kind ever discovered.
Found in 2022 in Dinosaur, Colorado, by paleontologist Jason Cooper, the fossil is now on loan to the American Museum of Natural History for public display and scientific study.
The museum plans to conduct research on Apex, including CT scans and bone sampling, to better understand Stegosaurus growth, metabolism, and life history.
After four years on display, the original skeleton will be replaced by a cast, while Apex’s scientific data will contribute to ongoing paleontological research.