<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated balance sheet of Farmers Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 1997 and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholder's equity and cash flows for the nine month period ended September 30, 1997 (unaudited) 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 <CASH> 610,527 <SECURITIES> 90,810 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 843,128 <PP&E> 707,930 <DEPRECIATION> 231,376 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 12,840,695 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 139,768 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 500,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1 <OTHER-SE> 6,707,631 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 12,840,695 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,504,332 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 723,611 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 31,553 <INCOME-PRETAX> 749,168 <INCOME-TAX> 307,912 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 441,256 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 441,256 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0