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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000769993-10-000558.txt : 20101230
<SEC-HEADER>0000769993-10-000558.hdr.sgml : 20101230
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101230160508
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000769993-10-000558
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101228
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101230
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101230

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Rajpal Sumit
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001406540

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33606
		FILM NUMBER:		101281278

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO
		STREET 2:		85 BROAD STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10004

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VALIDUS HOLDINGS LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001348259
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29 RICHMOND ROAD
		CITY:			PEMBROKE
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HMO8
		BUSINESS PHONE:		441-278-9000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29 RICHMOND ROAD
		CITY:			PEMBROKE
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HMO8
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>vr420101228sr_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001348259</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VALIDUS HOLDINGS LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001406540</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rajpal Sumit</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GOLDMAN SACHS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 WEST STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10282</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</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>593</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.70</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9635375</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>593</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9634782</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person is a managing director of Goldman, Sachs &amp; Co. (&quot;Goldman Sachs&quot;). Goldman Sachs is a wholly-owned
 subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (&quot;GS Group&quot;). The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the
 securities reported herein except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, if any. As of December 28, 2010, Goldman
 Sachs and GS Group may be deemed to beneficially own indirectly, in the aggregate, 9,634,782 shares of common stock of
 Validus Holdings, Ltd. (the &quot;Company&quot;), par value $0.175 per share (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;), by reason of the beneficial
 ownership of such shares by certain investment partnerships of which affiliates of Goldman Sachs and GS Group are the
 general partner, managing general partner or managing limited partner.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of Common Stock of the Company reported herein as indirectly purchased and sold were beneficially owned directly
 by Goldman Sachs and indirectly by GS Group. Without admitting any legal obligation, Goldman Sachs or another wholly-owned
 subsidiary of GS Group will remit appropriate profits, if any, to the Company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rachel Parrish, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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