“Jodi” — The $47.3M Nanotyrannus Dinosaur Fossil

A dinosaur discovered on a Montana ranch has sold for 47-point-3 million dollars, becoming the second most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction.

The rare Nanotyrannus skeleton, nicknamed “Jodi,” sold Tuesday at Sotheby’s in New York. Six bidders competed for more than twelve minutes before the sale was finalized.

Montana rancher Jodi Pierson discovered the fossil on her property in the Hell Creek Formation in Garfield County in 2019. The skeleton was named in her honor.

Sotheby’s says Jodi is one of only three substantial Nanotyrannus skeletons known to science. The dinosaur lived approximately 67 million years ago.

The auction house had estimated the skeleton would bring between six million and nine million dollars.

The sale trails only a Tyrannosaurus rex named “Gus,” which sold for 50-point-1 million dollars in July.