-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Mpxgthd2xFaAJM6G/f5AVcEazx0w2y4xvFStkRxbX+ho54yWlWW39ZscFrjWxxAl
 JRa+Xq7c7pvidmB4prNHow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-063071.txt : 20101221
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-063071.hdr.sgml : 20101221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101221160604
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-063071
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101221

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FORTUNE BRANDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000789073
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HEATING EQUIP, EXCEPT ELEC & WARM AIR & PLUMBING FIXTURES [3430]
		IRS NUMBER:				133295276
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 LAKE COOK ROAD
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8474844400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 LAKE COOK ROAD
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN BRANDS INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TATLOCK ANNE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001020567

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09076
		FILM NUMBER:		101265807

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		180 RIVERSIDE DR 5F
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			100024
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd294917.xml
<DESCRIPTION>DECEMBER SWAP
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000789073</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FORTUNE BRANDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001020567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TATLOCK ANNE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>520 LAKE COOK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Par Value $3.125</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2624</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16944</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Par Value $3.125</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1286</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.60</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15658</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.21</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2624</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-04-24</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-04-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2624</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the exercise of stock options issued under the issuer's Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plans.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the number of shares delivered in payment of the exercise price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>On December 17, 2010, Mrs. Tatlock exercised 2,624 stock options granted to her under the issuer's Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plans. Mrs. Tatlock delivered 1,286 shares of the issuer's common stock in payment of the exercise price. As a result of this transaction, Mrs. Tatlock increased her direct ownership of the issuer's common stock to 15,658 shares. She also owns 10,496 options to purchase the issuer's common stock.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Angela M. Pla, Attorney-in-Fact for Anne M. Tatlock</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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