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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UmnsS4bjtONEI4pkOcrZqU4U+wBfJVNiEU65c9flbnlYmeRQBQBPrm3498UchNL4
 sqhIG/5Ch/zIyK/X3/z0lA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000898822-08-000501.txt : 20080428
<SEC-HEADER>0000898822-08-000501.hdr.sgml : 20080428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080428180904
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000898822-08-000501
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080407
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080428
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080428

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000777001
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		IRS NUMBER:				133286161
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE METROTECH NORTH
		STREET 2:		9TH FL
		CITY:			BROOKLYN
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3476439862

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE METROTECH NORTH
		STREET 2:		9TH FL.
		CITY:			BROOKLYN
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			J P MORGAN CHASE & CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000019617
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08989
		FILM NUMBER:		08782535

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		270 PARK AVE
		STREET 2:		39TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2122706000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		270 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHASE MANHATTAN CORP /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960402

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHEMICAL BANKING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHEMICAL NEW YORK CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880508
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form3a_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-07</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-04-15</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000777001</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000019617</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>J P MORGAN CHASE &amp; CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>270 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>$10 million Daily Range Accrual Notes</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-06-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by subsidiary</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>$4.998 million 18% Barrier Reverse Convertible Notes</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-09-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by subsidiary</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On the expiration date, the Reporting Person is currently obligated under the terms of the notes to deliver, for each
 1,000,000 principal amount of notes, an amount of shares of the worst performing stock in a reference basket of four stocks,
 which currently includes Common Stock, determined by dividing the principal amount by the strike price of the worst
 performing stock.  The strike price of Common Stock included in the basket is $60.2875, which is 65% of the initial per
 share price of Common Stock ($92.7500).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On the expiration date, the Reporting Person is obligated to deliver either (i) if the final value, as determined pursuant to
 the agreement governing the notes (the &quot;Final Value&quot;) of each of the shares in the reference basket described below is equal
 to or greater than the initial value of such share, $4.998 million, or (ii) if the Final Value of one or more of the
 reference stocks is less than the initial value of such share(s), the number of Reference Assets, as defined in the
 agreement governing the notes, for the worst performing of the reference shares.  The reference basket currently consists of
 five stocks, one of which is Common Stock, but is subject to adjustment for certain merger and other reorganization type
 events. The Reference Asset amount is generally, for each $9,996 principal amount of the notes, a number of shares of the
 reference issuer obtained by dividing 9996 by the initial price of the reference stock. [Continued in footnote 3]</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">[Continued from footnote 2] The notes bear interest at a rate of 36% per annum, payable in arrears.  The initial per share
 price of Common Stock included in the reference basket is $87.30.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These notes were inadvertently omitted from the Reporting Person's original Form 3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anthony J. Horan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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