Ken Griffin, the billionaire founder and CEO of Citadel hedge fund, has purchased the stegosaurus fossil named "Apex" for a record-breaking $44.6 million at a Sotheby's auction.
This sale marks the highest price ever paid for a fossil at auction, surpassing the previous record of $31.8 million for a Tyrannosaurus rex named "Stan" in 2020.Apex, a 161-million-year-old stegosaurus skeleton, stands 11 feet tall and measures nearly 27 feet from nose to tail. It was excavated from private land in Moffat County, Colorado, in 2022 and 2023, and is considered to be the finest stegosaurus specimen to come to market due to its size, completeness, and exceptional preservation.Griffin, a major Republican donor with an estimated fortune of $38.3 billion, outbid six other contenders for the fossil.
He has expressed his intention to explore loaning Apex to a U.S. institution, emphasizing his commitment to keeping the fossil in America.
This aligns with his previous philanthropic efforts in paleontology and cultural preservation, including a $16.5 million donation to Chicago's Field Museum in 2018 for a dinosaur exhibit.The sale of Apex has reignited discussions about the commercialization of important fossils and its potential impact on scientific research and public access. While some argue that high prices may incentivize more research opportunities, others express concern about limiting scientific access to these valuable specimens.Griffin's acquisition of Apex adds to his growing collection of significant artifacts, which includes a rare first-edition copy of the U.S. Constitution purchased for $43.2 million in 2021. His commitment to sharing these treasures with the public demonstrates a balance between private ownership and public accessibility of important historical and scientific specimens.
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