WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME OF THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO FORM 10-Q FOR THE THIRTEEN
WEEKS ENDED APRIL 4, 1999.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-04-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-04-1999
<CASH>                                            38.7
<SECURITIES>                                      22.6<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                                    186.2
<ALLOWANCES>                                       4.8
<INVENTORY>                                       15.8
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 272.8<F2>
<PP&E>                                            64.1
<DEPRECIATION>                                    21.4
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   459.8
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            167.7
<BONDS>                                            6.8
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0.0
<PREFERRED>                                        0.0
<COMMON>                                           1.5
<OTHER-SE>                                       150.1
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     459.8<F3>
<SALES>                                            0.0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 500.1
<CGS>                                              0.0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    492.2
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0.0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0.3
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 1.2
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    7.8
<INCOME-TAX>                                       3.1
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                0.0
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0.0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0.0
<CHANGES>                                          0.0
<NET-INCOME>                                       4.0<F4>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.26
<FN>
<F1>MARKETABLE SECURITIES AND CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT ARE CLASSIFIED AS 
NON-CURRENT ASSETS ON THE BALANCE SHEET.
<F2>INCLUDES $15.1 MILLION OF OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
<F3>INCLUDES $52.6 MILLION RESERVE FOR LOSSES OF CASUALTY REINSURANCE
SUBSIDIARY, $47.3 MILLION MINORITY INTEREST, $16.5 MILLION DEFERRED REVENUE AND
$17.4 MILLION OTHER LIABILITIES.
<F4>INCLUDES MINORITY INTEREST AND EQUITY INCOME OF FOREIGN AFFILIATES - NET OF
INCOME TAXES OF $(2.4) MILLION AND $1.7 MILLION RESPECTIVELY
</FN>