<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 16,827,600 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 203,600 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 217,600 <EQUITIES> 829,200 <MORTGAGE> 3,425,900 <REAL-ESTATE> 3,731,400 <TOTAL-INVEST> 57,964,400 <CASH> 906,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 3,282,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 118,397,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 0 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 4,098,100 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 21,758,700 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 5,498,700 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 404,600 <COMMON> 1,800 <OTHER-SE> 3,292,600 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 118,397,000 <PREMIUMS> 724,100 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,582,900 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 372,700 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,417,500 <BENEFITS> 527,200 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 122,400 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 2,373,900 <INCOME-PRETAX> 440,300 <INCOME-TAX> 133,100 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 218,200 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (23,100) <NET-INCOME> 195,100 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.97 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.91 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0