<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            45,985<F1>
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                         110
<MORTGAGE>                                       3,389
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      587
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  52,707
<CASH>                                             289
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           3,927<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  77,387
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 44,898<F3>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                229<F3>
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     370<F3>
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                            1,896<F3>
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  8,972
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,725<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                         85<F5>
<COMMON>                                           321
<OTHER-SE>                                       6,340<F6>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    77,387
<PREMIUMS>                                       1,633<F7>
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              1,973
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  14
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     748<F8>
<BENEFITS>                                       2,123
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        260<F9>
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             (311)<F10>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    305<F11>
<INCOME-TAX>                                       180<F12>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 86
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0















<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        86
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.36
<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; AND COST OF TREASURY STOCK.
<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 $60 MILLION OF DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES,
SHOWN SEPARATELY, NET OF TAX, IN THE CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT.
<F12>EXCLUDES $21 MILLION TAX BENEFIT FOR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DIVIDENDS RELATED TO
PREFERRED SECURITIES SUBSIDIARIES.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>