[Conformed copy]








                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934




                         April 17, 2003 (April 17, 2003)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)



                              FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



           Delaware                          1-9076              13-3295276
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction              (Commission          (IRS Employer
       of incorporation)                  File Number)       Identification No.)



 300 Tower Parkway, Lincolnshire, Illinois                          60069
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (847) 484-4400
                                                     ----------------------




                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT



Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

        (c)      Exhibits.


                 99.      Press release of Registrant dated April 17, 2003.


Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure (Information furnished in this Item 9 is
        furnished pursuant to Item 12).

         Registrant is furnishing its press release dated April 17, 2003,
which reports Registrant's first quarter 2003 results, pursuant to Item 12,
"Results of Operations and Financial Condition", of Form 8-K. The press release
is included herewith as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated herein by reference.

                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                                FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
                                                ---------------------
                                                (Registrant)



                                                By   /s/ C. P. Omtvedt
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    C. P. Omtvedt
                                                    Senior Vice President and
                                                      Chief Financial Officer




Date:  April 17, 2003



                                 EXHIBIT INDEX




                                                                Sequentially
Exhibit                                                         Numbered Page
-------                                                         -------------
                                                             
99.      Press release of Registrant dated
         April 17, 2003.