Billionaire Ken Griffin has once again made headlines with his recent purchase of a $44.6 million Stegosaurus skeleton, nicknamed "Apex." This acquisition shattered fossil auction records and is considered one of the most complete specimens of its kind ever found. The nearly 27 feet long and 11 feet high fossil was purchased through auction house Sotheby's, surpassing their estimated maximum of $6 million.
Griffin, the CEO of Citadel and worth an estimated $38 billion according to Forbes, is no stranger to record-breaking purchases. In 2019, he bought a New York City penthouse for $238 million, setting a record for the most expensive home ever sold in the US. More recently, he outdid himself with a $107 million purchase of a luxury waterfront compound in Miami-Dade County.
Following his purchase of the Stegosaurus skeleton, Griffin has announced his intention to lend Apex to a US institution. This move continues his history of significant loans, such as his donation to the Field Museum in 2018 for the acquisition of the biggest dinosaur ever discovered. Additionally, in 2021, Griffin won a bid for a first-edition copy of the US Constitution, partnering with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to make the document publicly available.
Griffin's latest acquisition has once again demonstrated his interest in historical artifacts and his willingness to share them with the public. With a track record of record-breaking purchases and generous donations to cultural institutions, Griffin's ownership of the Stegosaurus skeleton is sure to spark further interest and discussion in the world of paleontology and historical preservation.