-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A87pOUZCwx/G94lBF2UPF+gVmNU6QrvLImeLo6KCR2saDIvsGgyTFIsCV1JPjNVV
 lxmeHccikAjVPIKobOz4dw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001214767-03-000001.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0001214767-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030519104909
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001214767-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030519

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELL DAVID ARTHUR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214767

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06686
		FILM NUMBER:		03709892

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1271 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 44TH FL
		STREET 2:		C/O IPG
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123998000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000051644
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-ADVERTISING AGENCIES [7311]
		IRS NUMBER:				131024020
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1271 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		STREET 2:		44TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-399-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		136 MADISON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10016

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCCANN ERICKSON INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710715
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-19</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000051644</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IPG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214767</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BELL DAVID ARTHUR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qual Stock Options</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>32.46</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-19</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>79800</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>32.46</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-06-22</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-03-01</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>79800</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>670928</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qual Stock Options</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>33.6</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-19</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>131100</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>33.6</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-06-22</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-02-27</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>131100</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>539828</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This filing reflects the voluntary election by the reporting person to relinquish stock options back to the issuer.  The reporting person is receiving NO compensation in exchange for said options in any other way.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David A. Bell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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