<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's consolidated financial statements as filed in Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        22,437,818
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     146,326
<MORTGAGE>                                      14,137
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              22,644,235
<CASH>                                         235,675
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                       2,581,828
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              29,454,005
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             19,409,349
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            276,673
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          199,046
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                523,209
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        15,819
<OTHER-SE>                                   3,414,653
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                29,454,005
<PREMIUMS>                                   5,873,661
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,077,715
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (5,440)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 304,766<F1>
<BENEFITS>                                   4,833,077
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    180,417
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         1,372,388
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                864,820<F1>
<INCOME-TAX>                                   279,797
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            585,023<F2>
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   585,023<F2>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.30<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.16<F2>
<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 business.
<F2>Includes $211,190 after-tax gain ($1.55 basic earnings per share, $1.50
diluted earnings per share) from the sale of the television business.
</FN>