<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND> 
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ACE
LIMITED 1998 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                         OCT-01-1997    
<PERIOD-END>                           SEP-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                 5,056,807
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                        0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                          0
<EQUITIES>                                             189,717
<MORTGAGE>                                                   0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                       5,883,360
<CASH>                                                 317,714
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                      57,225
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                  76,445
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       8,788,753
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                      3,737,869
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                    773,702
<POLICY-OTHER>                                         129,692
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                        0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0
<COMMON>                                                 8,066
<OTHER-SE>                                           3,706,204
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         8,788,753
<PREMIUMS>                                             894,303
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                    324,254
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                     188,385
<OTHER-INCOME>                                               0
<BENEFITS>                                             516,892
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                            105,654
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                         0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        580,191
<INCOME-TAX>                                            20,040
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    560,151
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                           560,151
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             3.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             2.96
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       2,745,225
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                    534,021
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                     (17,129)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                     246,354
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                       337,422
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      2,678,341
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                      0