<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's consolidated financial statements as filed in Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        22,773,606
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     151,810
<MORTGAGE>                                      15,817
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              23,214,971
<CASH>                                           1,866
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                       2,672,684
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              29,808,634
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             21,184,683
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            278,577
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          240,574
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                413,511
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        15,808
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,777,967
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                29,808,634
<PREMIUMS>                                   4,412,040
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            798,946
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (5,703)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 300,567<F1>
<BENEFITS>                                   3,632,839
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    133,381
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         1,019,740
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                719,890<F1>
<INCOME-TAX>                                   230,861
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            489,029<F2>
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   489,029<F2>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.45<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Includes $267,223 gain from the sale of the television stations
in 1997.
<F2>Includes $211,190 after-tax gain ($1.49 per share) on the sale of
the television stations in 1997.
</FN>