<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 20,848,400 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 144,600 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 163,500 <EQUITIES> 1,265,200 <MORTGAGE> 2,604,700 <REAL-ESTATE> 3,225,800 <TOTAL-INVEST> 75,277,700 <CASH> 1,448,900 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 3,185,700 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 155,562,200 <POLICY-LOSSES> 0 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 4,514,400 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 21,742,200 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 8,146,200 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,200 <OTHER-SE> 5,182,200 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 155,562,200 <PREMIUMS> 1,137,200 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,842,700 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 825,900 <OTHER-INCOME> 2,547,100 <BENEFITS> 718,300 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 227,900 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 4,381,400 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,066,800 <INCOME-TAX> 376,200 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 578,000 <DISCONTINUED> (2,900) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 575,100 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.78 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.51 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0