Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
HAYS THOMAS C
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FORTUNE BRANDS INC [FO] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC., 300 TOWER PARKWAY		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/02/2004
(Street)

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL 60069		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1) 12/02/2004   M(2)   5,300 A $ 38.69 5,300 (1) D  
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1) 12/02/2004   S   5,300 D $ 78.3 0 D  
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1) 12/03/2004   M(2)   21,700 A $ 38.69 21,700 (1) D  
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1) 12/03/2004   S   21,700 D $ 78 0 D  
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1)               52,352 (1) I By trusts held for the benefit of Mr. Hays and his spouse.
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1)               9,907 (1) I By trusts held for the benefit of various family members.
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1)               4,063 (1) (3) I By Fortune Brands, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan Trust.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Options (Right to Buy) $ 38.69 12/02/2004   M(2)     5,300 (1) 02/23/1999 02/23/2008 Common Stock 5,300 (1) $ 38.69 94,700 (1) D  
Options (Right to Buy) $ 38.69 12/03/2004   M(2)     21,700 (1) 02/23/1999 02/23/2008 Common Stock 21,700 (1) $ 38.69 73,000 (1) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
HAYS THOMAS C
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
300 TOWER PARKWAY
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL 60069		   X      

Signatures

 Russell W. Hahn, Attorney-in-Fact for Thomas C. Hays   12/06/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Attached to each share of common stock is one Preferred Share Purchase Right that is not presently transferable from the common stock.
(2) Reflects the exercise of options granted under the issuer's Long-Term Incentive Plans.
(3) The number of shares reported as held by the Fortune Brands, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan Trust represents the undersigned's proportional beneficial interest in the common stock held in the Trust as of December 2, 2004.
 
Remarks:
On December 2, 2004 and December 3, 2004, Mr. Hays performed cashless exercises of options granted issued to him under the issuer's Long-Term Incentive Plans.  Specifically, on December 2, 2004, Mr. Hays purchaed and then subsequently sold 5,300 shares of the issuer's common stock.

On December 3, 2004, Mr. Hays purchased and subsequently sold 21,700 shares of the issuer's common stock.  After these transactions, Mr. Hays 

indirectly owns 52,352 shares of the issuer's common stock through the revocable trust described above.  In addition, Mr. Hays is deemed to have

indirect beneficial ownership of 9,907 shares held in various trusts for the benefit of family members; however, he disclaims beneficial 

ownership of these shares.  Mr. Hays also owns options to purchase 260,500 shares of the issuer's common stock and holds 4,063 shares through his

participation in the Fortune Brands Retirement Savings Plan.

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