Genghis Khan had one, legend says. So did the Buddha.

And now, the prized red Tibetan mastiff, thought to be one of the world’s oldest and most venerable breeds, has another distinction: One of the massive, fluffy dogs has become the most expensive dog ever sold.

An 11-month old pup named Big Splash ("Hong Dong” in Chinese) recently sold in the Chinese city of Qingdao for 10 million yuan — about $1.5 million in U.S. dollars.

Eleven-month-old red Tibetan mastiff Hong Dong ("Big Splash") was bought by an unidentified coal baron for 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) and was handed to his new owner on March 12 in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao. Local media said the dog may be the most expensive in the world.

The 3-foot-tall, 180-pound dog is one of a breed that has been around since time immemorial. Tibetan mastiffs are said to have guarded nomad camps and monasteries, and are rarely seen outside of Tibet.