<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 OF GREY ADVERTISING INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 54,635 <SECURITIES> 14,447 <RECEIVABLES> 659,340 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 838,728 <PP&E> 191,468 <DEPRECIATION> 110,259 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,101,229 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 846,228 <BONDS> 23,025 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 10,222 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,432 <OTHER-SE> 151,359 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,101,229 <SALES> 596,747 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 596,747 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 559,124 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,400 <INCOME-PRETAX> 40,212 <INCOME-TAX> 20,565 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 18,076 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 18,076 <EPS-PRIMARY> 13.60 <EPS-DILUTED> 13.04