Exhibit 23

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in following Registration
Statements of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. on Form S-3, File Nos. 33-56009,
333-42295, 333-43565, 333-57083, 333-61437, 333-66861, 333-79417, 333-83049,
333-31980, 333-49876, 333-52902, 333-76894, 333-104455, 333-109793 and Form S-8,
File Nos. 33-49979, 33-50012, 33-55804, 33-56103, 333-16041, 333-57661,
333-58007, 333-66353, 333-81901, 333-92357, 333-50928, 333-57460, 333-63002,
333-74200, 333-83580, 333-86060, 333-101461, 333-104006, 333-106567, 333-106631
and 333-108976 of our reports dated February 13, 2004, (which reports express
unqualified opinions and explanatory paragraphs relating to the adoption of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation," as amended by SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB
Statement No. 123," in 2003), appearing in and incorporated by reference in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. for the fiscal
year ended November 30, 2003.




/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

February 27, 2004
New York, New York