Nicolas cage bought the Tarbosaurus bataar fossil back at a New York auction back in 2007 and received a certificate of authenticity after spending $276,000 on it. In 2014, however, the Department of Homeland Security contacted the actor to inform him that a years-long investigation had led them to believe it had been illegally smuggled from Mongolia. The authorities determined the fossil “was indeed illegally smuggled into the US and rightfully belongs to the government of Mongolia,” Cage agreed to turn it over to Homeland Security. Cage is an avid collector and apparently was in a competition with Leonardo Dicaprio about the purchase of the skull.
Questions-
Would you willingfully hand over the skull?
Would you pay that much for something such as a dinosaur skull?
My Thoughts-
I would be really mad because if I spent that much on something just to find out that I have to hand it over to someone else for nothing would make me mad. And I don't think I could ever bring myslef to pay that much for something such as a dinosaur skull.
Replies
Again, your replies are a bit basic and brief.
I would not want to turn over the skull because it is such a cool artifact and the price tag. Spending all that money on such a cool thing and then being told that you bought it illegally would make me very angry. If I had the money I would buy that because it is such a cool piece to own and its something that not everyone gets to see. It is one of the coolest pieces that someone could own.
Agreed.
I would hand it over just because it's Mongolia. Like they are mean and tortuous people. (so i've heard) They don't care if you don't "give it back". They'll take it back and take you with it.
Yeah very true!
I don't think that the 276,000 dollars was that big of a deal to him although I could be wrong. Also, if he is trying to win a competition against Dicaprio, you wouldn't want to let your opponent say that the thing that put you ahead of them was stolen. I would willingly hand over the skull otherwise you are no better than the robber/smuggler who took it. I would pay that much for the skull, especially if I had the money and could do it.
Totally Agree! Good thoughts!