<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORPORATION'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JULY
3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000

                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                  JUL-03-1999
<CASH>                                                386,864
<SECURITIES>                                          681,197
<RECEIVABLES>                                         993,500
<ALLOWANCES>                                           63,272
<INVENTORY>                                           645,992
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    2,941,764
<PP&E>                                              1,153,583
<DEPRECIATION>                                        442,735
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      5,934,991
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               1,239,543
<BONDS>                                             1,983,760
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                              167,253
<OTHER-SE>                                          1,785,882
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        5,934,991
<SALES>                                             2,006,466
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    2,101,878
<CGS>                                               1,224,548
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       1,308,924 <F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      517,188 <F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        9,348
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     55,474
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      (307,020)
<INCOME-TAX>                                          (56,733)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  (206,889)
<DISCONTINUED>                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                         (206,889)
<EPS-BASIC>                                           (1.31)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           (1.32)


<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 INCOME, NET" AND
"INTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT".
</FN>