<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            47,557<F1>
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                         110
<MORTGAGE>                                       3,258
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      245
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  53,589
<CASH>                                             218
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           3,612<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  79,416
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 45,078<F3>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                189<F3>
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     380<F3>
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                            1,945<F3>
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  8,881
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,726<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                         85<F5>
<COMMON>                                           318
<OTHER-SE>                                       6,916<F6>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    79,416
<PREMIUMS>                                       2,472<F7>
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              2,983
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  25
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   1,123<F8>
<BENEFITS>                                       3,197
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        405<F9>
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             (476)<F10>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    689<F11>
<INCOME-TAX>                                       315<F12>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                312
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       312
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.27
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>ALL FIXED MATURITY SECURITIES ARE CLASSIFIED AS AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE AND 
RECORDED AT FAIR VALUE.
<F2>INCLUDES COST OF INSURANCE PURCHASED (CIP).
<F3>THE SUM OF POLICY LOSSES, UNEARNED PREMIUMS, POLICY-OTHER, AND POLICYHOLDER
FUNDS COMPRISES INSURANCE AND ANNUITY LIABILITIES.
<F4>CONSISTS OF NON-CONVERTIBLE AND CONVERTIBLE MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE 
PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES.
<F5>CONSISTS OF CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK.
<F6>CONSISTS OF NET OF THE FOLLOWING:  NET UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON 
SECURITIES; RETAINED EARNINGS; COST OF TREASURY STOCK; AND FOREIGN CURRENCY 
TRANSLATION GAINS (LOSSES).
<F7>INCLUDES INSURANCE CHARGES.
<F8>INCLUDES PRIMARILY FINANCE CHARGES ON FINANCE RECEIVABLES.
<F9>CONSISTS OF AMORTIZATION OF POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND CIP, NET OF 
ACCRETION OF INTEREST.
<F10>CONSISTS OF CAPITALIZATION OF POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND CIP.
<F11>EXCLUDES $95 MILLION OF DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES,
SHOWN SEPARATELY, NET OF TAX, IN THE CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT.
<F12>EXCLUDES $33 MILLION TAX BENEFIT FOR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DIVIDENDS RELATED TO
PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>