<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  7
<LEGEND>                                                          
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT OF SUNAMERICA INC.'S FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
<S>                                  <C>         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                        MAR-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                 17,197,591
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                         0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                           0
<EQUITIES>                                               87,214
<MORTGAGE>                                            3,086,249
<REAL-ESTATE>                                            84,995
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                       23,080,443
<CASH>                                                1,267,977
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                            0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                1,257,842
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       31,917,148
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                      20,130,842
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                           0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                         0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       1,004,585
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                             335,869
<COMMON>                                                119,447
<OTHER-SE>                                            1,191,859
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         31,917,148
<PREMIUMS>                                                    0
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                     696,167
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                     (18,746)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                          126,331
<BENEFITS>                                              400,494
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                              60,413
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                   (16,829)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                         238,802
<INCOME-TAX>                                             71,600
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                     167,202
<DISCONTINUED>                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                            167,202
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              1.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              1.20
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                           0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                             0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                            0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                              0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                               0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                       0
        



</TABLE>