<TABLE> <S> <C>

       
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 
WHITMAN CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000049573
<NAME> WHITMAN CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           4,700
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  127,100
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,700
<INVENTORY>                                     64,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               598,100<F1>
<PP&E>                                         830,600
<DEPRECIATION>                                 447,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,080,600<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          269,800<F3>
<BONDS>                                        821,700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       456,300
<OTHER-SE>                                     185,900
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,080,600
<SALES>                                      1,501,400
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,501,400
<CGS>                                          924,400
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,306,600<F4>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                25,600<F5>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              41,500<F6>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                127,700
<INCOME-TAX>                                    61,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             47,800<F7>
<DISCONTINUED>                                  91,600<F8>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   139,400
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.33<F9>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.32<F10>
<FN>
<F1>
CURRENT ASSETS INCLUDE $356,100 OF NET CURRENT ASSETS OF COMPANIES HELD FOR
DISPOSITION.

<F2>
TOTAL ASSETS INCLUDE $775,400 OF NET ASSETS OF COMPANIES HELD FOR DISPOSITION,
INCLUDING $419,300 OF NET NON-CURRENT ASSETS, IN ADDITION TO THE NET CURRENT
ASSETS NOTED IN FOOTNOTE 1, ABOVE.

<F3>
CURRENT LIABILITES INCLUDE $85,500 OF SHORT-TERM DEBT, INCLUDING CURRENT
MATURITIES OF LONG-TERM DEBT.  

<F4>
TOTAL COSTS INCLUDE COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G&A EXPENSES AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE
OF $924,400, $366,800 AND $15,400, RESPECTIVELY.

<F5>
OTHER EXPENSES INCLUDE AN $8,700 CHARGE, PRINCIPALLY FOR ASSET WRITE-DOWNS
AT GENERAL BOTTLERS' JOINT VENTURE IN POLAND.  THE CHARGE REDUCED MINORITY
INTEREST BY $1,700.

<F6>
INTEREST EXPENSE, NET, INCLUDES INTEREST EXPENSE, INTEREST INCOME FROM HUSSMANN
INTERNATIONAL, INC. ("HUSSMANN") AND MIDAS, INC.("MIDAS") AND OTHER INTEREST
INCOME OF $68,200, $23,700 AND $3,000, RESPECTIVELY.  INTEREST INCOME FROM
HUSSMANN AND MIDAS RELATED TO INTERCOMPANY LOANS AND ADVANCES.  THE RELATED
INTEREST EXPENSE RECORDED BY HUSSMANN AND MIDAS IS INCLUDED IN INCOME (LOSS)
FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS.

<F7>
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS IS REDUCED BY MINORITY INTEREST OF $18,800. 

<F8>
IN DECEMBER 1997, HUSSMANN AND MIDAS WERE RECLASSIFIED TO DISCONTINUED 
OPERATIONS.  INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS WAS REPORTED NET OF INCOME
TAX PROVISIONS OF $56,100.

<F9>
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $ 0.46
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS    0.87
NET INCOME               $ 1.33

<F10>
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $ 0.45
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS    0.87
NET INCOME               $ 1.32 
</FN>
        

</TABLE>