<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND RETAINED
EARNINGS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            12,154
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            2,705
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              3,005
<EQUITIES>                                       1,404
<MORTGAGE>                                         470
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      609
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  20,714
<CASH>                                              92
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                 134
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             407
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  24,245
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  1,998
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              1,011
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     151
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           10,618
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  3,023
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              842
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           231
<OTHER-SE>                                       4,362
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    24,245
<PREMIUMS>                                       1,994
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                888
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 106
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     172
<BENEFITS>                                       1,867
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        339
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    468
<INCOME-TAX>                                       114
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                354
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       351
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0