<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-01-2000             JAN-01-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-02-1999             JUN-03-1999             APR-03-1999
<CASH>                                              64                      47                       5
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    2,420                   2,328                   1,368
<ALLOWANCES>                                        26                      24                      24
<INVENTORY>                                      1,740                   1,777                   1,337
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 4,410                   4,332                   2,802
<PP&E>                                          14,996                  14,896                  14,551
<DEPRECIATION>                                   8,648                   8,512                   8,368
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  15,469                  15,352                  12,806
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            3,953                   4,394                   2,716
<BONDS>                                          5,010                   4,588                   4,112
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           153                     153                     150
<OTHER-SE>                                       3,352                   3,191                   2,996
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    15,469                  15,352                  12,806
<SALES>                                         12,785                   7,256                   3,407
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                12,785                   7,256                   3,407
<CGS>                                            9,545                   5,313                   2,531
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    9,545                   5,313                   2,531
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   735                     444                     221
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     3                       1                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 350                     217                     111
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,210                     762                     246
<INCOME-TAX>                                       474                     305                     100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                736                     457                     146
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       736                     457                     146
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0<F1>                   0<F3>                   0<F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F2>                   0<F4>                   0<F6>

<FN>
<F1>  Georgia-Pacific Group EPS-Primary $3.15
      The Timber Company EPS-Primary $2.30
<F2>  Georgia-Pacific Group EPS-Diluted $3.07
      The Timber Company EPS-Diluted $2.29
<F3>  Georgia Pacific Group EPS-Primary $1.81
      The Timber Company EPS-Primary $1.71
<F4>  Georgia Pacific Group EPS-Diluted $1.76
      The Timber Company EPS-Diluted $1.70
<F5>  Georgia Pacific Group EPS-Primary $0.57
      The Timber Company EPS-Primary $0.54
<F6>  Georgia Pacific Group EPS-Diluted $0.56
      The Timber Company EPS-Diluted $0.54
</FN>



</TABLE>