The Stegosaurus specimen, which became the most expensive dinosaur fossil sold earlier this year, is now on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. However, it is not the only dinosaur fossil that has sold for a staggering amount.

A 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus skeleton, known as Apex, has sold for $44.6 million at a Sotheby’s auction. Mounted in a defensive pose with its pointed tail raised in the air, the dinosaur is about 11.5 feet tall and roughly 27 feet long.

The extraordinary specimen, believed to be one of the largest and most complete Stegosaurus skeletons ever found, was discovered by commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper in 2022 on his property near Dinosaur City, Colorado.

Stegosaurus is a species of large herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, known for its distinctive double row of dragon-shaped plates along its back and pointed tail. Apex is a particularly well-preserved example of these dinosaurs, with a skeleton containing more than 254 bony elements out of a total of about 320. The missing bones were filled in using 3D printed and sculpted components.

The fossil skeleton exceeded its low pre-sale estimate by more than 11 times at an auction held in New York in July. Seven bidders tried to secure the purchase. The specimen was eventually sold to billionaire hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin, who has since loaned the fossil to a natural history museum.

The sale beat the previous record for dinosaur fossil sales by some distance. Below are some of the other most valuable examples ever sold.

Stan the T. rex – $31.8 million (2020)

Stane, remarkably complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, sold for $31.8 million at Christie’s auction in 2020, setting a world record for any dinosaur fossil of the time. The skeleton is more than 39 feet long and has been widely studied by paleontologists. Its location remained a mystery for two years, until business records revealed it had been exported to the United Arab Emirates, where it awaited the expected opening of a natural history museum in Abu Dhabi.

Hector the Deinonychus – $12.4 million (2022)

This skeleton of a Deinonychus — a group of agile, carnivorous dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous period (145-100.5 million years ago) known for their sickle-shaped claws on each hind leg — fetched $12.4 million at Sotheby’s 2022 auction. than T. rexits rarity and pop culture associations – these dinosaurs inspired the depiction of Velociraptors in the book Jurassic Park – made it a highly sought after specimen.

Sue the T. rex – $8.36 million (1997)

Sue is one of the best known and best preserved T. rex specimens found. It was discovered in 1990 in South Dakota and was purchased by the Field Museum in Chicago in 1997 for $8.36 million with the support of companies such as McDonald’s and Disney. A 40-foot-long specimen – one of the largest T. rex skeletons ever found—remains the centerpiece of the museum’s collection.

Triceratops “Big John” – $7.7 million (2021)

Big John, believed to be the largest known Triceratops skeleton, was sold at auction in Paris in 2021 for $7.7 million to Tampa business couple Sidd and Ami Pagidipati. It was later loaned to the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa, where it is on display. This specimen of the iconic dinosaur is more than 66 million years old and measures about 26 feet in length. Triceratops is a large herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period (100.5–66 million years ago). It is recognizable by its three facial horns, a large fold at the back of its head, and its role as one of the last iconic dinosaurs to live before the infamous mass extinction.

Gorgosaurus – $6.1 million (2022)

A Gorgosaurus skeleton sold for $6.1 million at Sotheby’s in 2022. The sale was notable because it represented the first specimen of its kind to go to private auction—most Gorgosaurus fossils are in museums. Gorgosaurus is a tyrannosaurid belonging to the same broader group as T. rex who lived in the late Cretaceous period. It was a large, bipedal predator that could reach up to 30 feet in length.