By Tim Binnall
The largest triceratops skeleton ever found was sold for a staggering $7.7 million to a private buyer at an auction held in Paris on Thursday. Dubbed 'Big John,' the ancient creature's remains measure an astounding 26 feet long, including a jaw-dropping eight-and-a-half foot-long skull which boasts a width of six-and-a-half feet. Since being discovered in South Dakota back in 2014, the skeleton has been something of a world traveler, first being sent to Italy to be reassembled by experts and then on to France a few months ago where it was put on display ahead of the highly anticipated auction.
Initially expected to sell for a 'mere' $1.8 million, 'Big John' reportedly wound up going for more than four times that amount once the final gavel fell. In what sounds like a thrilling scene, eleven would-be owners reportedly vied for the skeleton and, as the auction built to a crescendo, four determined individuals caused the price to climb to its astronomical final level as they put forward increasing offers on the piece. The ultimate winner of the auction is an unnamed American collector who, a spokesperson said, "is absolutely thrilled with the idea of being able to bring a piece like this to his personal use."
Sadly, it would appear that the public showcase of 'Big John' in Paris over the last few weeks may be the last the world will see of the skeleton for a while, as its impending new owner opt may simply keep the skeleton on display in their private collection. The fate of the historic triceratops will, no doubt, further the misgivings of museums and other scientific institutions which have decried such sales since they cannot compete with deep-pocketed collectors. To that end, 'Big John' fell far short of the record price for a dinosaur skeleton as that title remains with a near-complete Tyrannosaurus rex which fetched $31.8 million at auction last year.