EXHIBIT 5.1

                [LETTERHEAD OF WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI]

May 16, 2002

The Gap, Inc.
Two Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA  94105

              Re: The Gap, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     At your request, we are rendering this opinion in connection with the
proposed issuance pursuant to The Gap, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as
amended (the "Plan"), of up to an additional 11,000,000 shares of common stock,
$0.05 par value ("Common Stock") of The Gap, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company").

     We have examined instruments, documents, and records which we deemed
relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed. In
such examination, we have assumed the following: (a) the authenticity of
original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to
the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; and (c) the truth,
accuracy, and completeness of the information, representations, and warranties
contained in the records, documents, instruments, and certificates we have
reviewed.

     Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that the additional
11,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the
Plan are validly authorized shares of Common Stock and, when issued in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to this
Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the use of our name wherever it
appears in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not
consider that we are "experts" within the meaning of such term as used in the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder with respect to any part of
the Registration Statement, including this opinion, as an exhibit or otherwise.

                                            Very truly yours,


                                            /s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI

                                            WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                            Professional Corporation