Hedge Fund Tycoon Acquires Stegosaurus Fossil for a Record-Breaking $45 Million.
Here's a fresh, original version of the article, following the specified guidelines:
A billionaire hedge fund magnate, Ken Griffin, snatched an almost complete Stegosaurus fossil at an auction for a staggering $44.6 million, according to a Wall Street Journal report. This record-breaking purchase shatters the previous high of $32 million for the priciest fossil ever sold.
A press release from Sotheby's revealed seven bidders lined up for the coveted "Apex" Stegosaurus, with only the mystery buyer identified anonymously. But the Wall Street Journal broke the news, confirming 55-year-old Griffin, who owns Citadel Securities, placed the highest bid. Griffin plans to lend the fossil to a U.S. institution, assuring, "Apex was born in America and is going to stay in America."
Unearthed in Moffat County, Colorado, on private land close to Dinosaur, the ancient town named for its proximity to Dinosaur National Monument, in 2022 and 2023, Apex is hailed by Sotheby's as remarkably well-preserved. With 254 out of 319 bone elements intact, it represents a giant, robust adult specimen, showing little distortion and retaining original features, the auction house said.
Detailing the find, Sotheby's noted that Apex is "virtually complete, with 254 fossil bone elements (of an approximate total of 319), the skeleton belonged to a large, robust adult individual, and evidence of arthritis, indicating that it lived to an advanced age." There's no sign of combat injuries or post-mortem scavenging, but it does exhibit several unique pathologies.
However, the sale of Apex stirs controversy within scientific circles. Many argue that such a rare and significant historical artifact shouldn't be controlled by private entities. In fact, the Washington Post points out that the original Sotheby's auction classified the fossil as an undetermined species of stegosaurus, possibly due to insufficient scientific examination. While Griffin's promise to loan it to a U.S. institution sounds philanthropic, uncertainties persist over the nature of the access granted to the institution beyond display.
In 2021, Griffin's Citadel Securities faced accusations of involvement in the outages at Robinhood during the Gamestop meme stock mayhem. The "KenGriffinLied" hashtag trended, but the billionaire dismissed these allegations as conspiracy theories, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
With an estimated net worth of $38 billion, Griffin has donated over $60 million to Republican candidates during the current election cycle, the Financial Times reported. Griffin backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the primaries but, as of now, hasn't extended financial support to Donald Trump. However, Griffin recently announced that he'd consider donating to Trump after seeing his vice presidential pick, with Trump selecting Ohio Senator J.D. Vance this week.
And here's the rewritten paragraph-wise, for better readability:
- Billionaire Ken Griffin, the owner of Citadel Securities, made a record-breaking purchase of a near-complete Stegosaurus fossil at auction for $44.6 million.
- The "Apex" Stegosaurus, bought by seven bidders, went to an anonymous buyer, revealed later to be Griffin.
- Griffin plans to loan the "Apex" to a U.S. institution.
- The Stegosaurus fossil was found in Moffat County, Colorado and is unusually well-preserved, with evidence of arthritis, indicating the dinosaur lived to an advanced age.
- Scientific circles question the sale of such rare finds controlled by private owners, with the original Sotheby's auction classifying the fossil as an undetermined species of stegosaurus.
- Citadel Securities faced allegations of involvement in the Robinhood outages during the Gamestop meme stock craze in 2021.
- Griffin has donated over $60 million to Republicans during the current election cycle, and his support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and potential donation to Donald Trump, following Trump's choice of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, remain to be seen.
- In the year 2023, technology and science collide as Ken Griffin, a prominent figure in the world of securities and founder of Citadel Securities, secures a futuristic exhibit - a nearly complete Stegosaurus fossil - for a massive sum of $44.6 million at an auction.
- grappling for the coveted "Apex" Stegosaurus, seven contenders made their bids, yet it was Griffin who emerged triumphant, amidst the confidentiality that shrouded the identity of the winning bidder.
- The billionaire has vowed to lend the pristine "Apex" Stegosaurus to a U.S. institution, ensuring that this remnant of prehistoric times remains within its native soil.
- Excavated in Moffat County, Colorado, in 2022, the remarkably well-preserved "Apex" Stegosaurus offers a rare glimpse into the life of an ancient giant, boasting 254 out of 319 bone elements and showing few signs of distortion or post-mortem scavenging.
- The acquisition, however, has sparked controversy within the scientific community, with some scholars raising doubts concerning the sale of such a rare and significant historical artifact to private entities, particularly given the initial classification of the fossil as an undetermined species of stegosaurus by Sotheby's.
