Dwayne Johnson shut down rumors that he is the anonymous owner of 'Stan.'
In 1987 South Dakota, an amateur paleontologist named Stan Sacrison discovered the fossil of a mostly complete, 39-foot-long Tyrannosaurus Rex (nicknamed “Stan”). It was excavated in 1992 and had long been housed at the private Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in Hill City, South Dakota.
That changed on October 6, 2020, when the London-based auction house Christie’s sold the T-Rex for a record $31.8 million, the highest price ever paid at auction for a fossil. The previous record was set in 1997 with the sale of another largely complete T-Rex for $8.36 million.
On Monday, a giant T-Rex skull was spotted behind Johnson during his virtual appearance on Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli Manning. Eli even pointed out the dinosaur, with Johnson saying, "I got a T-Rex skull, yes. That's 'Stan.' So as a matter of fact 'Stan' is the most complete T-Rex skull ever found by a paleontologist -- a young paleontologist -- and his name was Stan, so this T-Rex head was named after him. Pretty cool and badass isn't it?"
Taking to Instagram just a day later, the former WWE superstar clarified that he is not the mystery buyer of 'Stan' and that what was seen in his home is just a replica.
After my LIVE interview on last night’s #ManningCast on @NFL’s Monday Night Football, there’s been tons of worldwide speculation in the world of science ~ that I am the “mystery buyer” of the original T-REX skull, known as STAN.
I am not the mystery buyer.
In my home office, this is my REPLICA CAST of STAN that I had made and purchased from my friends at The Black Hills Institute of Geological Research and Paleontological Excavations --
*swipe left and you’ll meet my team --------
The original STAN was found in 1987, by amateur paleontologist, Stan Sacrison and finally excavated in 1992.
In science, this T-REX skull is considered to be the most perfectly preserved skull ever found. Bones of this beautiful beast were perfectly pristine.
This is why STAN is so extraordinary and special.
In 2020, STAN was auctioned and sold for $31.8 million to an anonymous buyer and never seen again.
That buyer was not me.
My love, respect, fascination and curiosity for paleontological & archeological science runs deep - and if I was the proud owner of the real STAN, I sure as hell wouldn’t keep him in my office ----
I’d keep him in a museum, so the world could enjoy, study and learn from him.
* some cool paleontology history for you guys ~ based on anatomical research, STAN had some BRUTAL fights during his lifetime.
Multiple bites and punctures from another T-Rex all over his skull as well as at the base of his skull that resulted in a broken neck, which STAN SURVIVED but his vertebrae were fused, resulted in loss of mobility and great pain for the rest of his life.
STAN’s a fucking bad ass.
And reminds me of myself.
Not because I’m a bad ass, but because I’m 67 MILLION YEARS OLD TOO ----
Cheers to the Cretaceous Legend himself…
STAN
#itsaboutdriveitsaboutpower ----
In other Dwayne Johnson-related news, Deadline recently reported that Netflix is in "the early stages of putting together a back-to-back shoot of two Red Notice sequels." The hope is to begin production in early 2023. Learn more here.
Also, earlier today, The Rock's ZOA Energy hit Money.co.uk's rankings for the Hottest Celebrity Brands. Click here for more information.
