NEW YORK (Reuters) -A 54-pound (24.5-kg) Martian meteorite that is the largest known piece of Mars found on Earth has sold for $5.3 million at Sotheby's, setting a new auction record for a meteorite.

A spirited 15-minute bidding war between online and phone participants ultimately landed the ultra-rare specimen with an anonymous buyer, far surpassing its initial estimate of $2-4 million.

A massive Mars meteorite sold for a record-breaking $5.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction, making it the highest selling meteorite ever.