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  <headerData>
    <submissionType>13F-HR</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
      <flags>
        <confirmingCopyFlag>false</confirmingCopyFlag>
        <returnCopyFlag>false</returnCopyFlag>
        <overrideInternetFlag>false</overrideInternetFlag>
      </flags>
      <filer>
        <credentials>
          <cik>0001138060</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </credentials>
      </filer>
      <periodOfReport>06-30-2019</periodOfReport>
    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <coverPage>
      <reportCalendarOrQuarter>06-30-2019</reportCalendarOrQuarter>
      <filingManager>
        <name>MADISON INVESTMENT HOLDINGS INC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>550 SCIENCE DR</com:street1>
          <com:city>MADISON</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>WI</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>53711</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </filingManager>
      <reportType>13F HOLDINGS REPORT</reportType>
      <form13FFileNumber>028-03477</form13FFileNumber>
      <provideInfoForInstruction5>Y</provideInfoForInstruction5>
      <additionalInformation>Madison Asset Management, LLC, Madison Investment Advisors, LLC and Madison Investment Holdings, Inc. share all resources and personnel at their 550 Science Drive office, and such, no distinction is made among the three in the information table presented in the report. Due to rounding, certain dollar values may be higher or lower than the amounts would have been absent such rounding.</additionalInformation>
    </coverPage>
    <signatureBlock>
      <name>TREY D. EDGERLE</name>
      <title>MUTUAL FUND COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATE</title>
      <phone>608-216-9193</phone>
      <signature>TREY D. EDGERLE</signature>
      <city>MADISON</city>
      <stateOrCountry>WI</stateOrCountry>
      <signatureDate>08-13-2019</signatureDate>
    </signatureBlock>
    <summaryPage>
      <otherIncludedManagersCount>2</otherIncludedManagersCount>
      <tableEntryTotal>219</tableEntryTotal>
      <tableValueTotal>5663945</tableValueTotal>
      <isConfidentialOmitted>false</isConfidentialOmitted>
      <otherManagers2Info>
        <otherManager2>
          <sequenceNumber>1</sequenceNumber>
          <otherManager>
            <cik>0001299351</cik>
            <form13FFileNumber>028-10986</form13FFileNumber>
            <name>Madison Asset Management, LLC</name>
          </otherManager>
        </otherManager2>
        <otherManager2>
          <sequenceNumber>2</sequenceNumber>
          <otherManager>
            <cik>0001507115</cik>
            <form13FFileNumber>028-14137</form13FFileNumber>
            <name>Madison Investment Advisors, LLC</name>
          </otherManager>
        </otherManager2>
      </otherManagers2Info>
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