<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from American Financial Corporation 10-Q for the nine months 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-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 352,261 <SECURITIES> 11,177,859<F1> <RECEIVABLES> 709,882 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,670,098 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 390,853 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 162,760 <COMMON> 9,625 <OTHER-SE> 1,382,718 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 15,670,098 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,967,907 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 233,214 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 67,293 <INCOME-PRETAX> 248,964 <INCOME-TAX> 91,343 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 157,621 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (6,986) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 150,635 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F2> <FN> <F1>Includes an investment in investees of $219 million. <F2>Not applicable since all common shares are owned by American Financial Group. </FN>