<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORPORATION'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 2,
1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                  JAN-02-1999
<CASH>                                                396,670
<SECURITIES>                                        1,150,585
<RECEIVABLES>                                         928,222
<ALLOWANCES>                                           52,607
<INVENTORY>                                           599,707
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    3,301,329
<PP&E>                                              1,291,485
<DEPRECIATION>                                        485,523
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      6,331,645
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               1,138,323
<BONDS>                                             2,025,531
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                              166,971
<OTHER-SE>                                          2,081,153
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        6,331,645
<SALES>                                             3,690,545
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    3,867,596
<CGS>                                               2,186,893
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       2,341,065 <F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      257,621 <F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       10,038
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    104,035
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       391,510
<INCOME-TAX>                                          170,680
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   176,807
<DISCONTINUED>                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         5,094
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                          181,901
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            1.07
<FN>
<F1> THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT
ACCOUNTS: "COST OF PRODUCT AND SERVICE REVENUES" AND
"COST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS".

<F2> THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT
ACCOUNTS: "RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER NONRECURRING COSTS" AND
"INTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT".
</FN>