<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            48,243
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           12,658
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             13,633
<EQUITIES>                                       5,893
<MORTGAGE>                                       3,290
<REAL-ESTATE>                                    1,552
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 141,505
<CASH>                                             303
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              17,744
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           7,647
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 194,398
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 67,881
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             10,009
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           15,293
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 21,505
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,847
<OTHER-SE>                                      24,284
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   194,398
<PREMIUMS>                                      24,345
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              5,424
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 165
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   (144)
<BENEFITS>                                      19,751
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      1,947
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             3,533
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,529<F1>
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,594
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,766
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,766
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.59<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.57<F2>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  21,171
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             10,938
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                (281)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                               4,389
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                 5,716
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 24,619<F3>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                            281
<FN>
<F1>Amount represents income before income taxes and minority interest.
<F2>Earnings per share information reflects a common  stock split in the form
of a 50 percent common stock dividend paid July 31, 1998. Prior period
financial data schedules have not been restated for this stock split.
<F3>Includes net loss reserves resulting from the acquisitions of Transatlantic
and 20th Century.
</FN>