EXHIBIT 23.1


               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Linear Technology  Corporation of our report dated July 19, 2002, included in
the 2002 Annual Report to Stockholders of Linear Technology Corporation.

Our audits also included the financial  statement  schedule of Linear Technology
Corporation  listed in Item 14(d).  This schedule is the  responsibility  of the
Company's  management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered  in  relation  to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We consent to the  incorporation  by  reference in the  Registration  Statements
(Form S-8 Nos.  33-8306,  33-27367,  33-37432,  333-40595,  33-57330,  33-58745,
333-84149 and  333-60946)  pertaining to the 1986 Employee  Stock Purchase Plan,
1981  Incentive  Stock  Option Plan,  1988  Incentive  Stock  Option Plan,  1996
Incentive Stock Option Plan, and 2001 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan and Form of
Stock Option Agreement of Linear Technology Corporation of our report dated July
19, 2002, with respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements  incorporated
herein by reference,  and our report  included in the preceding  paragraph  with
respect to the financial statement schedule included in this Annual Report (Form
10-K) for the year ended June 30, 2002.

                                                 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Jose, California
September 12, 2002

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