If a paleontologist happens to find a dinosaur skeleton?

Question

Could a paleontologist that found a dinosaur skeleton make good money from the find? I know I have to go to grad school for this? This is when they make the money isn't it? I know of a nice site to find trilobites that know on else knows the only bad thing is that these are headless and some are curled up and others are flattened out. However, I have also found many caves in my area that haven't been gone through by excavators. The caves probably have some prehistoric bones. Either way lady geologist your on a role and have 20 pts so far unless some one gives me a better answer.

Answer 1

I volunteer (as a geologist) with a museum of paleontology that has about 10 paleontologists / geologists. None of them are rich through discovery, publishing or speaking. The fellow I work with does nicely investing in stocks and real estate.

Here in Alberta Canada fossils belong to to the government (the Queen of England in fact). It is illegal to remove or possess them. The best you can expect (if you find a new species) is to have it named after you (ie Bobosaurus)

There is a case in S Dakota where the largest T rex (named Sue) was found on BLM land. It was "worth" millions but the private company was treated harshly by the feds (FBI etc).

Answer 2

You can't make money finding fossils unless they are on your own property.  They belong to the property owner or the government.

Answer 3

If you are concerned about making money - become a stock broker or a lawyer.  If you are concerned about money you won't be happy as a paleontologist.  You need to love the discovery of the history of life on Earth.  Money should be secondary.

Most paleontologist don't make a dime from the fossils they discover.  The fossils are kept in the collections of universities or museums.