NEW YORK, NY.- "Jodi," the extraordinarily rare Nanotyrannus specimen, sold at Sotheby's for $47.3 million, after a twelve-minute bidding battle that saw six bidders compete online and over the phones, before ultimately selling on the phone. With today's result, "Jodi" becomes the second most valuable dinosaur ever sold at auction, surpassed only by "Gus," which achieved $50.1 million at Sotheby's this July.

"This auction would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Clayton Phipps (the Dinosaur Cowboy) and Pete Larson, as well as the wonderful team of people who worked together with Clayton to excavate and save "Jodi": Jodi Pierson, Kelly Pierson, Luke Phipps, Nathan Cooper, Katie Busch, and Chris Morrow. Their passion and expertise have been fundamental to Jodi's story. From the discovery and excavation, their commitment to understanding and preserving this remarkable specimen has helped bring us to this moment, a testament to the fact that we can all make major contributions to science. This exceptional result is a wonderful recognition of that work, and of the enduring fascination with the Nanotyrannus." -- Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's Vice Chairman and Worldwide Head, Science & Natural History

One of the most exceptional and rare dinosaur fossils ever to come to auction, "Jodi" is a remarkably complete specimen of Nanotyrannus, a genus whose identity has been the subject of scientific debate for nearly a century. "Jodi" is one of only three substantial Nanotyrannus skeletons known to science, and the first to come to market since the genus was confirmed last fall. The finest and most complete Nanotyrannus available, "Jodi" is an exceptional example of this elusive predator, boasting a virtually complete skull, and is second only to "Bloody Mary," the Nanotyrannus that forms one half of the celebrated "Dueling Dinosaurs" (also excavated by Clayton Phipps).

Discovered in 2019 by Montana rancher Jodi Pierson (hence the name 'Jodi'), just eight miles from the "Dueling Dinosaurs" site, "Jodi" was then excavated by the renowned Clayton Phipps, known as the "Dinosaur Cowboy", along with of his then-11 year old son Luke Phipps, his cousin Jodi Pierson and her husband Kelly, as well as Nathan Cooper, Katie Busch, and Chris Morrow. No stranger to Nanotyrannus, Clayton Phipps also famously excavated the exceptional "Dueling Dinosaurs."

The result caps a remarkable year for dinosaur sales at Sotheby's, following the record-breaking sale of "Gus" this July for $50.1M, the most valuable dinosaur ever sold at auction.