Largest Martian Meteorite Ever Found on Earth Sells for $5.3 Million at New York Auction

A record-breaking Martian meteorite weighing 54 pounds and discovered in Niger has sold for $5.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, making it the largest known piece of Mars ever found on Earth.

A rare Martian meteorite has fetched an astonishing $5.3 million at a high-profile auction in New York, setting a new record as the largest known piece of Mars ever discovered on Earth.

Weighing an impressive 54 pounds (24.5 kilograms) and measuring nearly 15 inches (38.1 cm) in length, the meteorite—officially named NWA 16788—was discovered in a remote region of Niger in November 2023. The sale, managed by Sotheby’s, underscores the increasing interest and value attached to extraterrestrial artefacts, particularly those of Martian origin.

With fewer than 400 confirmed Martian meteorites found worldwide, NWA 16788 is considered an extraordinary scientific and collector’s item. According to Sotheby’s, the specimen is approximately 70 percent larger than the next biggest known Martian meteorite, making it an unparalleled discovery in planetary science.

"This is the largest piece of Mars on planet Earth," said Cassandra Hatton, Vice-Chairman of Science and Natural History at Sotheby’s. "The odds of this travelling from Mars, surviving entry through Earth’s atmosphere, and then landing on dry land where it could actually be found are astronomically small."

The identity of the winning bidder remains undisclosed, with the buyer opting for anonymity. The final hammer price included additional taxes and fees, bringing the total to $5.3 million.

The meteorite was the centrepiece of an auction that featured over 100 natural history items. Among other notable sales was a nearly complete Ceratosaurus skeleton from the late Jurassic period, which sold for a staggering $26 million, and the fossilised skull of a Pachycephalosaurus, which fetched $1.4 million.

The event not only attracted collectors and institutions from around the world but also highlighted the growing market for rare scientific artefacts, especially those that provide tangible connections to our solar system’s distant past.

While it remains unclear where NWA 16788 will ultimately be displayed, the meteorite’s historic sale marks a significant moment in both scientific and auction history—linking geology, astronomy, and luxury collecting in a single, unprecedented transaction.