<PAGE>

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-K

[ X ]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
           OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
           OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 
Commission file number 1-800

                    WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware                        36-1988190
   (State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)         Identification No.)

          410 North Michigan Avenue
              Chicago, Illinois                          60611
      (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(312) 644-2121

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                     Name of each exchange on
Title of each class                       which registered      

Common Stock, no par value            New York Stock Exchange
                                      Chicago Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                      Title of each class

               Class B Common Stock, no par value

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes X.  No  .

<PAGE>

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this
chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to
the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of
this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

     As of January 31, 1998, there were outstanding 92,647,677
shares of Common Stock, no par value, and the aggregate market
value of the Common Stock (based upon the closing price of the
stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such date) held by
non-affiliates was approximately $4,852,021,291.  As of January
31, 1998, there were outstanding 23,569,341 shares of Class B
Common Stock, no par value.  Class B Common Stock is not traded
on the exchanges, is restricted as to transfer or other
disposition, and is convertible into Common Stock on a
share-for-share basis.  Upon such conversion, the resulting
shares of Common Stock are freely transferable and publicly
traded.  Assuming all shares of outstanding Class B Common Stock
were converted into Common Stock, the aggregate market value of
Common Stock held by non-affiliates on January 31, 1998 (based
upon the closing price of the stock on the New York Stock
Exchange on such date) would have been approximately
$5,417,475,301. Determination of stock ownership by
non-affiliates was made solely for the purpose of this
requirement, and the Registrant is not bound by these
determinations for any other purpose.


               DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     Portions of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement,
dated February 3, 1998 for the March 3, 1998 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, and of the 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders, are
incorporated by reference into portions of Parts I, II, III and
IV of this Report.

<PAGE>

PART I

Item 1.  Business

(a)  General Development of Business.

     (1)  General information.  From 1891 to 1903, the Company
was operated as a partnership until its incorporation in Illinois
as Wm. Wrigley, Jr. & Co. in December 1903.  In November 1910,
the Company was reincorporated under West Virginia law as Wm.
Wrigley Jr. Company, and in October 1927, was reincorporated
under the same name under Delaware law.

     Throughout its history, the Company has concentrated on one
principal line of business: the manufacturing and marketing of
quality chewing gum products.

     (2)  Not applicable.

(b)  Financial Information About Industry Segments.

     The Company's principal business of manufacturing and
selling chewing gum constitutes more than 90% of its consolidated
worldwide sales and revenues.  All other businesses constitute
less than 10% of its consolidated revenues, operating profit and
identifiable assets.

(c)  Narrative Description of Business.

     (1)  Business conducted.  The following is a description of
the business conducted and intended to be conducted by the
Company and its wholly-owned associated companies (the Company):

          (i)  Principal products, markets and methods of
     distribution.  The Company's principal business is the
     manufacture and sale of chewing gum, both in the United
     States and abroad.

          The Company's brands manufactured and available in the
     United States are:  WRIGLEY'S SPEARMINT, DOUBLEMINT, JUICY
     FRUIT, BIG RED and WINTERFRESH which account for a majority
     of the Company's sales volume; FREEDENT, a specially
     formulated chewing gum which does not stick to most types of
     dental work, available in three flavors; and EXTRA sugarfree
     chewing gum, available in four flavors and as bubble gum.

          Except for BIG RED and WINTERFRESH, which have limited
     availability overseas, the above Wrigley brands are also
     commonly available in many international markets. Additional
     brands manufactured and marketed abroad are:  ARROWMINT,
     COOL CRUNCH, DULCE 16, JUICY FRUIT and P.K chewing gums in
     sugar coated pellet form, FREEDENT and ORBIT sugarfree gums
     in various flavors, sugarfree WRIGLEY'S SPEARMINT,
     DOUBLEMINT, JUICY FRUIT and bubble gums HUBBA BUBBA in
     various flavors, BIG BOY, and BIG G.

<PAGE>

          The Company's ten largest markets, by shipments,
     outside of the United States in 1997 were, in alphabetical
     order, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany,
     Philippines, Poland, Russia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. 

          Finished chewing gum is manufactured in three factories
     in the United States and eleven factories in other
     countries.  Three domestic wholly owned associated 
     companies also manufacture products other than finished
     chewing gum.  Amurol Confections Company, in addition to
     manufacturing and marketing children's bubble gum items
     including BUBBLE TAPE, BIG LEAGUE CHEW and other uniquely
     packaged confections, also has various non-gum items, such
     as a line of suckers, dextrose candy, liquid gel candy and
     hard roll candies as an important part of its total
     business.  Amurol is also developing export markets,
     currently the largest being Canada, Brazil and Japan.  The
     principal business of the L.A. Dreyfus Company is the
     production of chewing gum base, at one domestic and one
     overseas factory, for the parent and wholly owned associated
     companies, and for other manufacturers of chewing gum and
     specialty gum products in the United States and abroad. 
     Northwestern Flavors, Inc. processes flavorings and
     rectifies mint oil for the parent and associated companies.

          In 1979, the Company organized its domestic converting
     operations under the name of Wrico Packaging Division as a
     separate operating unit of the Company.  This division was
     created to help further the Company's capability to produce
     improved packaging materials.  Currently, Wrico produces
     about 47% of the Company's domestic printed and other
     wrapping supplies.

          The Company markets chewing gum primarily through
     wholesalers, corporate chains and cooperative buying groups
     that distribute the product through retail outlets. 
     Additional direct customers are vending distributors,
     concessionaires and other established customers purchasing
     in wholesale quantities.  Customer orders are usually
     received by mail, electronically, telephone or telefax and
     are generally shipped by truck from factory warehouses or
     leased warehousing facilities.  Consumer purchases at the
     retail level are generated primarily through the Company's
     advertisements on television and radio, and in newspapers
     and magazines.

          (ii)  New products.  While there were no significant
     new product introductions in 1997, additional or improved
     flavors were introduced for some product lines in various
     markets.

          (iii)  Sources and availability of raw materials.  Raw
     materials blended to make chewing gum base are available
     from private contractors and in the open market.

          Sugar, corn syrup, flavoring oils, polyols and
     aspartame are obtained in the open market, or under
     contracts, from suppliers in various countries.  All other
     ingredients and necessary packaging materials are also
     purchased and available on the open market.

          (iv)  Patents and trademarks.  The Company holds
     numerous patents relating to packaging, manufacturing
     processes and product formulas.  Approximately two dozen
     patents relating to product formula and sweetener
     encapsulation, primarily for sugarfree gum and continuous
     chewing gum manufacturing, are deemed of material importance
     to the Company.  Most of these patents expire in the
     countries in which they are registered at various times
     through the year 2017.

          Trademarks are of material importance to the Company
     and are registered and maintained for all brands of the
     Company's chewing gum on a worldwide basis.

<PAGE>

          (v)  Seasonality.  On a consolidated basis, sales
     normally are relatively consistent throughout the year,
     although the combined second and third quarters generally
     contribute more than half of the Company's sales.


          (vi)  Working capital items.  Inventory requirements of
     the Company are not materially affected by seasonal or other
     factors.  In general, the Company does not offer its
     customers extended payment terms.  The Company believes
     these conditions are not materially different from those of
     its competitors.

          (vii)  Customers.  The Company's products are
     distributed through more than 4,000 customers throughout the
     United States alone.  No single domestic or foreign customer
     accounts for as much as 10% of consolidated sales or
     revenues.

          (viii)  Orders.  It is the general custom of the
     wholesale trade to purchase chewing gum requirements at
     intervals of approximately ten days to two weeks to assure
     fresh stocks and good turnover.  Therefore, an order backlog
     is of no significance to the chewing gum business.

          (ix)  Government business.  The Company has no material
     portion of its business which may be subject to
     renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts at the
     election of the Government.

          (x)  Competitive conditions.  The chewing gum market is
     an intensely competitive one in the United States and in
     most international markets.  Though detailed figures are not
     available, there are approximately 14 chewing gum
     manufacturers in the United States.  Outside sources
     estimate that Wrigley brands account for approximately 50%
     of the total chewing gum product unit sales in the United
     States.  The Company's principal competitors in the United
     States are the Warner-Lambert Company and RJR Nabisco.

          Wrigley brands are sold in over 140 countries and
     territories, although in some cases these markets are
     relatively small.  In most international markets, there are
     two or three major competitors and generally a half dozen or
     more other companies competing for a share of the gum market
     in each instance.

          In all markets in which the Company distributes its
     products, principal methods of competition are a combination
     of competitive profit margins to the trade, superior
     quality, brand recognition, product benefit and a fair
     consumer price.

          (xi)  Research and development.  The Company has for
     many years maintained an active in-house research and
     development program, and has also contracted outside
     services for developing and improving Wrigley products,
     machinery and operations.  In relation to the Company's
     consolidated assets, revenues and aggregate operating
     expenses, amounts expended in these areas during the last
     three fiscal years have not been material.

<PAGE>

          (xii)  Compliance with environmental laws.  Compliance
     with federal, state and local laws regulating the discharge
     of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to
     the protection of the environment, has no material effect on
     capital expenditures, earnings or the competitive position
     of the Company.

          (xiii)  Employees. As of December 31, 1997, the Company
     employed approximately 8,200 persons worldwide.

     (d)  Financial Information About Foreign and Domestic
Operations and Export Sales.

          Information concerning the Company's operations in
     different geographic areas for the years ended December 31,
     1997, 1996 and 1995 is hereby incorporated by reference from
     the 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders, on page 19, under
     the caption "Operations by Geographic Areas," and on page 
     22 under the caption "Results of Operations."

<PAGE>

Item 2.  Properties

     The information below relates to the principal properties of
the Company which are primarily devoted to finished chewing gum
production or raw materials processing.  The Company considers
the properties listed below to be in good condition, well
maintained and suitable to carry out the Company's business.  All
of the finished gum factories listed below operated at least one
full shift throughout the year, all but two operated a
substantial second shift and eight operated a third shift for
much of the year.  All properties are owned by the Company unless
otherwise indicated.  The figures given in the table are
approximate.

<TABLE>

<S> <C>                                                   <C>
                                                            Floor Area
    Property and Location                                 (Square Feet)

    FINISHED GUM FACTORIES

    Chicago, Illinois.....................................   1,279,000
    Gainesville, Georgia..................................     460,300
    Yorkville, Illinois...................................     225,000(a) 
    Asquith, N.S.W., Australia............................     116,700
    Salzburg, Austria.....................................      22,800
    Don Mills, Ont., Canada...............................     135,200
    Plymouth, England.....................................     282,000
    Biesheim, France......................................     417,100
    Nairobi, Kenya........................................      34,600
    Guangzhou, China, P.R.C...............................     125,900(b)
    Manila, Philippines...................................     100,700(c)
    Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.................................      70,500
    Bangalore, India......................................      40,100
    Poznan, Poland........................................     103,200


    RAW MATERIALS PROCESSING FACTORIES

    Edison, New Jersey....................................     536,000
    West Chicago, Illinois................................      40,300
    Biesheim, France......................................      72,000 

    OFFICE BUILDING

    Wrigley Building, Chicago, Illinois...................     453,400(d)
</TABLE>

     (a)  Does not include a 170,000 square foot leased warehouse
facility located in West Naperville, Illinois.

     (b)  In China, the Company has a 50 year lease with the
Guangzhou Economic Technological Development Zone for the land
upon which the factory is located.

<PAGE>

     (c)  In the Philippines, the Laurel-Langley Agreement
expired on May 27, 1975 and, under the terms of the Philippine
Constitution, foreign firms were required to divest themselves of
their land sites (but not the structures or improvements
thereon).  Consequently, in December, 1975, Wrigley Philippines,
Inc. donated its land site, but not the buildings thereon, by
deed to the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, a
non-stock, non-profit organization with no government
affiliation, on a lease-back arrangement. 

     (d)  This building is the Company's principal
non-manufacturing property and houses the offices of the
Company's corporate headquarters.  In 1997, the Company's offices
occupied approximately 142,000 of the 453,400 square feet of
rentable space in the building.
     
     In the case of each factory listed above, there are also
included some offices and warehouse facilities.  Also, the
Company maintains branch sales offices and warehouse facilities
in the United States and abroad.   

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

     None.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

     None.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

     All officers are elected for a term which ordinarily expires
on the date of the meeting of the Board of Directors following
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  The positions and ages
listed below are as of December 31, 1997.  There were no
arrangements or understandings between any of the officers and
any other person(s) pursuant to which such officers were elected.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>

<S>                           <C>                                   <C>
  Effective
Name and Age                  Position(s) with Registrant            Date(s)  

William Wrigley, 64           President and Chief Executive Officer since 1961
Douglas S. Barrie, 64         Group Vice President                  since 1996
                              Group Vice President-International     1984-1995
Ronald O. Cox, 59             Group Vice President                  since 1996
                              Group Vice President-Marketing         1985-1995
John F. Bard, 56              Senior Vice President                 since 1991
Martin J. Geraghty, 61        Senior Vice President-Manufacturing   since 1989
William Wrigley, Jr., 34      Vice President                        since 1991
                              Assistant to the President             1985-1992
Donald E. Balster, 53         Vice President-Production             since 1994
                              Senior Director-U.S. Production        1991-1994
Gary R. Bebee, 51             Vice President-Customer Marketing     since 1993
                              Assistant Vice President-Marketing     1989-1993
David E. Boxell, 56           Vice President-Personnel              since 1992
Susan S. Fox, 39              Vice President-Consumer Marketing     since 1993
                              Assistant Vice President-Marketing     1989-1993
Shaun Kim, 54                 Vice President-Engineering            since 1994
                              Senior Director-Engineering            1988-1994
Dennis R. Mally, 55 (a)       Vice President-Information Services   since 1995
                              Director-Information Services          1993-1994
Dushan Petrovich, 44          Vice President-Controller             since 1996
                              Vice President-Treasurer               1993-1995
                              Treasurer                              1992
Wm. M. Piet, 54               Vice President-Corporate Affairs      since 1988
                              Corporate Secretary                   since 1984
                              Assistant to the President            since 1995
John A. Schafer, 56           Vice President-Purchasing             since 1991
Philip G. Schnell, 53         Vice President-Research & Development since 1994
                              Senior Director-Research &
                              Development                            1988-1994
Christafor E. Sundstrom, 49   Vice President-Corporate Development  since 1988
J.E. Dy-Liacco, 66 (b)        Vice President-International          since 1980
                              President-Wrigley & Co., Ltd., Japan  since 1981
                              President-Wrigley Philippines, Inc.   since 1981
Philip G. Hamilton, 57        Vice President-International          since 1993
                              Managing Director, The Wrigley
                              Company Limited, England              since 1986
Jon Orving, 48                Vice President-International          since 1993
                              Managing Director, Wrigley
                              Scandinavia AB, Sweden                since 1983
Stefan Pfander, 54            Managing-Director-Europe              since 1996
                              Vice President-International          since 1992
                              Co-Managing Director of Wrigley
                              GmbH, Munich, Germany                 since 1981
Philip C. Johnson, 52         Senior Director, Benefits &
                              Compensation                          since 1995
                              Assistant Vice President-Personnel     1991-1995
Alan J. Schneider, 52 (c)     Treasurer                             since 1996
John H. Sutton, 66            General Manager-Converting Division   since 1979
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

          (a)   Mr. Mally joined the Company in 1993 assuming
responsibility for the Company's worldwide information systems. 
Before joining the Company, from 1989 to 1991 Mr. Mally was Vice
President Business Operations with The Cross Company in Fraser,
Michigan, a manufacturer of metal cutting and assembly machines. 
Following the 1991 acquisition of The Cross Company by Giddings &
Lewis, Mr. Mally served as Vice President Systems and Quality of
its Integrated Automation Division in Fraser, Michigan.

          (b)  Mr. Dy-Liacco retired on December 31, 1997, but
will continue to provide management services as a consultant.

          (c)  Mr. Schneider joined the Company in August 1996 as
Treasurer with responsibility for treasury, tax and credit
functions. He previously served CBI Industries, Inc. of Oak
Brook, Illinois, an international manufacturer of industrial
gases and metal plate surfaces, as Vice President-Finance and
Chief Financial Officer, having joined that company in 1987 and
serving in various financial capacities over the years, including
Controller and Vice President.

          At the meeting of the Board of Directors immediately
following the annual stockholders meeting of March 3, 1998, all
officers set forth in the schedule above, except Mr. Dy-Liacco,
were re-elected for a one-year term to their positions in the
Company.


                             PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Stock, Dividend and
         Stockholder Information

     At December 31, 1997, the Company had two classes of stock
outstanding: Common Stock, listed on both the New York and
Chicago Stock Exchanges, and Class B Common Stock, for which
there is no trading market.  Shares of the Class B Common Stock
were issued by the Company on April 11, 1986 to stockholders of
record on April 4, 1986.  Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten
votes per share, is subject to restrictions on transfer or other
disposition and is at all times convertible, on a share-for-share
basis, into shares of Common Stock.

     As of January 31, 1998, there were 36,347 stockholders of
record holding Common Stock and 4,143 stockholders of record
holding Class B Common Stock.  Regular quarterly dividends and
any extra cash dividends as may be deemed appropriate, which are
identical on both Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, are
declared at scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors and
announced immediately upon declaration.  Information regarding
the high and low quarterly sales prices for the Common Stock on
the New York Stock Exchange, and dividends declared per share on
a quarterly basis for both classes of stock, for the two-year
period ended December 31, 1997, is set forth in the Company's
1997 Annual Report to Stockholders, on page 26, under the
captions "Market Prices" and "Dividends" and is incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

     An eleven-year summary of selected financial data for the
Company is set forth in the Company's 1997 Annual Report to
Stockholders under the following captions and page numbers: 
"Operating Data" and "Other Financial Data", on pages 24 and 25,
and is incorporated herein by reference.

<PAGE>

Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
         Condition and Results of Operations

     Management's discussion and analysis of results of
operations and financial condition, including a discussion of
liquidity and capital resources, is set forth in the Company's
1997 Annual Report to Stockholders on pages 22 and 23 and is
incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
          Risk

     Disclosure about market risk is set forth on page 23 of the
Company's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders under the heading
"Market Risk" and is incorporated hereby by reference.

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     The Company's audited consolidated financial statements,
accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial
statements, with the report of independent auditors, at December
31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1997 are set forth in the Company's 1997
Annual Report to Stockholders on pages 7 through 21 and selected
unaudited quarterly data-consolidated results, for the years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 are set forth in the Company's
1997 Annual Report to Stockholders on page 26, and all such pages
are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
         Accounting and Financial Disclosure

      None.

                            PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

     Information regarding directors and nominees for
directorship is set forth in the Company's definitive Proxy
Statement, dated February 3, 1998, for the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders on March 3, 1998, on pages 2 through 4, under the
caption "Election of Directors" and is incorporated herein by
reference.  For information concerning the Company's executive
officers, see "Executive Officers of the Registrant" set forth in
Part I hereof.


Item 11.  Executive Compensation

     Information regarding the compensation of directors and
executive officers is set forth in the Company's definitive Proxy
Statement, dated February 3, 1998, for the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders on March 3, 1998, on pages 7 and 8, and 10 through
17 under the general captions "Compensation of Directors" and
"Executive Compensation", respectively, and is incorporated
herein by reference.

<PAGE>

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
          Management

     Information regarding security ownership of certain
beneficial owners, of all directors and nominees, of the named
executive officers, and of directors and executive officers as a
group, is set forth in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement,
dated February 3, 1998, for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on
March 3, 1998, on pages 5 through 7 under the captions "Security
Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers" and "Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners" and is incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     Information regarding certain relationships and related
transactions is hereby incorporated by reference from the
Company's definitive Proxy Statement, dated February 3, 1998, for
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on March 3, 1998 under the
following captions and page numbers:  "Election of Directors", on
page 2, regarding Mr. William Wrigley and Mr. William Wrigley,
Jr. and "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners", on
page 6, regarding the Offield family and Mr. Wrigley. 


                             PART IV


Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedule, and Reports on
          Form 8-K

     (a)  1, 2.  Financial Statements and Financial Statement
Schedule

     The data listed in the accompanying Index to Financial
Statements and Financial Statement Schedule, on page F-1 hereof,
is filed as part of this Report.

          3.  Exhibits

     The exhibits listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits,
on page F-3 hereof, are filed as part of this Report or are
incorporated by reference herein as indicated thereon.

     (b)  Not Applicable.

     (c)  Exhibits are attached hereto.

     (d)  See (a) 1, 2 above.

<PAGE>

                           SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has
duly caused this Form 10-K Report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date:  March 25, 1998               WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
                                          (Registrant)

                                    By: /s/ JOHN F. BARD      
                                            John F. Bard
                                        Senior Vice President
                                    (Principal Financial Officer)



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, this Report on Form 10-K has been signed
below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

        Signature                  Title

           *                   President, Chief
    William Wrigley            Executive Officer,
                               Director

/s/ JOHN F. BARD               Senior Vice President
    John F. Bard               (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ DUSHAN PETROVICH           Vice President-Controller
    Dushan Petrovich           (Principal Accounting Officer)

           *                   Director
   Charles F. Allison III

           *                   Director
   Douglas S. Barrie     

           *                   Director
   Lee Phillip Bell

           *                   Director    *By/s/ HOWARD MALOVANY
   Thomas A. Knowlton                           Howard Malovany
                                                Attorney-in-Fact
           *                   Director
   Penny Pritzker                           Date:  March 25, 1998

           *                   Director
   Steven B. Sample

           *                   Director
   Alex Shumate

           *                   Director
   Richard K. Smucker

           *                   Director
   William Wrigley, Jr.

<PAGE>
                                                  Exhibit 23.

                 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company of our report
dated January 28, 1998, included in the 1997 Annual Report to
Stockholders of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Wm.
Wrigley Jr. Company listed in Item 14(a).  This schedule is the
responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility
is to express an opinion based on our audits.  In our opinion,
the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as
a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information
set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the
Registration Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 33-43738 and 33-22788)
pertaining to the Special Investment and Savings Plan for Wrigley
Employees and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Management Incentive
Plan of our report dated January 28, 1998, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial
statement schedule of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company included or
incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1997.




 /s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP       
        Ernst & Young LLP


Chicago, Illinois
March 25, 1998

<PAGE>
<TABLE>

                                                       WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY


                                                    INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                                  AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
                                                            (Item 14(a))



                                                                           Reference         
                                                                    Form        Annual Report
                                                                    10-K             to
                                                                    Report       Stockholders
<S>                                                                 <C>         <C>
Data incorporated by reference from the 1997 Annual Report
 to Stockholders of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company:
   Consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 1997 and 1996........                   8-9
   For the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995:
       Consolidated statement of earnings..........................                     7
       Consolidated statement of cash flows........................                    10
       Consolidated statement of stockholders' equity..............                    11
       Accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial
       statements..................................................                 12-19
Consolidated financial statement schedule for the years ended
        December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995:
Valuation and qualifying accounts..................................    F-2
</TABLE>

     All other schedules are omitted since the required
information is not present or is not present in amounts
sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the
information required is included in the consolidated financial
statements or accounting policies and notes thereto.

     With the exception of the pages listed in the above index
and the Items referred to in Items, 1,5,6,7, and 8 of this Form
10-K Report, the 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders
is not to be deemed filed as part of this report.


<PAGE>
<TABLE>

                                                      WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY 

                                           Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
                                            Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
                                                           (In Thousands)


<S>  <C>                 <C>          <C>                           <C>           <C>
     Column A             Column B             Column C               Column D      Column E    
                                               Additions           
                         Balance at    Charged to     Charged to
                         Beginning     Costs and    Other Accounts  Deductions-     Balance at
    Description          of Period      Expenses       Describe      Describe(A)   End of Period

1997:
   Allowance for 
    doubtful accounts...  $8,538          1,434                        2,448           7,524    

1996:
   Allowance for
    doubtful accounts...  $9,060          2,080                        2,602           8,538    

1995:
   Allowance for 
    doubtful accounts...  $6,645          2,754                          339           9,060    
</TABLE>



(A)  Uncollectable accounts written-off, net of recoveries.

<PAGE>

                           WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
                    AND WHOLLY OWNED ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

                              INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                 (Item 14(a))
Exhibit 
Number                       Description of Exhibit

          Proxy Statement of the Registrant, dated February 3,
          1998, for the March 3, 1998 Annual Meeting of
          Stockholders, is hereby incorporated by reference.

3.        Articles of Incorporation and By-laws.

3(a).     Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
          Registrant.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a)
          of the Company's Annual Report and Form 10-K filed for
          the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992.
 
3(b).     By-laws of the Registrant.  Incorporated by reference
          to Exhibit 3(a) of the Company's Form 10-K filed for
          the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992.

10.       Material Contracts

10(a).    Non-Employee Directors' Death Benefit Plan. 
          Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K
          filed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.

10(b).    Senior Executive Insurance Plan.  Incorporated by
          reference to the Company's Form 10-K filed for the
          fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.

10(c).    Supplemental Retirement Plan.  Incorporated by
          reference to the Company's Form 10-K filed for the
          fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.

10(d).    Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. 
          Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K
          filed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.

10(e).    Non-Employee Directors' Stock Retirement Plan. 
          Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K
          filed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.

10(f).    Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company 1997 Management Incentive Plan. 
          Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly
          Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended
          September 30, 1997.

13.       1997 Annual Report to Stockholders of the Registrant.

21.       Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

23.       Consent of Independent Auditors.  (See page 12)

24 (a).   Power of Attorney.

24 (b).   Power of Attorney.

27.       Financial Data Schedule.

99.       Forward-Looking Statements.
--------------------
Copies of Exhibits are not attached hereto, but the Registrant
will furnish them upon request and upon payment to the Registrant
of a fee in the amount of $20.00 representing reproduction and
handling costs.