<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 21,148,800 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 262,000 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 285,700 <EQUITIES> 1,138,300 <MORTGAGE> 2,552,000 <REAL-ESTATE> 2,106,500 <TOTAL-INVEST> 67,861,200 <CASH> 1,356,200 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 3,419,500 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 157,548,900 <POLICY-LOSSES> 0 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 4,688,600 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 20,847,400 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 7,608,600 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,200 <OTHER-SE> 5,786,300 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 157,548,900 <PREMIUMS> 1,223,600 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3,468,700 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 153,600 <OTHER-INCOME> 3,424,000 <BENEFITS> 764,500 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 237,900 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 5,138,200 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,256,400 <INCOME-TAX> 414,800 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 652,700 <DISCONTINUED> 2,500 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 655,200 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.95 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.85 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0