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

  

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
3/31/2000 ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC. COMBINED BALANCE SHEET AND 3/31/2000 AND
3/31/99 COMBINED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS                      6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000                 SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000                 MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                          18,100                       0<F4>
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0<F4>
<RECEIVABLES>                                  377,300                       0<F4>
<ALLOWANCES>                                    20,600                       0<F4>
<INVENTORY>                                    411,900                       0<F4>
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               880,000                       0<F4>
<PP&E>                                       1,005,900                       0<F4>
<DEPRECIATION>                                 536,200                       0<F4>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,676,000                       0<F4>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          524,500                       0<F4>
<BONDS>                                        412,400                       0<F4>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0<F4>
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0<F4>
<COMMON>                                             0                       0<F4>
<OTHER-SE>                                     718,200<F1>                   0<F4>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,676,000                       0<F4>
<SALES>                                      1,033,500                 988,100
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,033,500                 988,100
<CGS>                                          514,800                 526,800
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  514,800                 526,800
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               343,600                 323,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0<F2>                   0<F2>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,500                   3,500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                169,600                 134,800
<INCOME-TAX>                                    49,200                  58,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            120,400                  76,800
<DISCONTINUED>                                   1,200                (79,800)<F5>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   121,600                 (3,000)
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0<F3>                   0<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F3>                   0<F3>
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS RALSTON PURINA COMPANY'S NET INVESTMENT IN ENERGIZER.
<F2>LOSS-PROVISION INCLUDED IN OTHER-EXPENSES ABOVE.
<F3>EARNINGS PER SHARE ARE NOT CALCULATED ON HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR
    FORM 10Q.
<F4>INFORMATION NOT FILED AS PART OF FORM 10Q.
<F5>INCLUDES LOSS ON DISPOSITION OF DISCONTINUED OPERATONS OF $74,200.
</FN>