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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SLjpZ6RZi6SIWy1QuElR+oGyKgVj5A5opEObrzUxWlfrHSFgwQWTKit7ra5wzYxB
 KmqXJpFf6tXWRRNSzWvbsQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000900421-03-000036.txt : 20031212
<SEC-HEADER>0000900421-03-000036.hdr.sgml : 20031212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031212120926
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000900421-03-000036
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031212

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAXXAM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000063814
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF ALUMINUM [3334]
		IRS NUMBER:				952078752
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5847 SAN FELIPE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7139757600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5847 SAN FELIPE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCO HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19881115

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCCULLOCH OIL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19800630

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCCULLOCH OIL CORP OF CALIFORNIA
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19691118

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BRUMLEY ELIZABETH D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001243048

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03924
		FILM NUMBER:		031051097

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5847 SAN FELIPE SUITE 2600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7139757600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5847 SAN FELIPE SUITE 2600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-10</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000063814</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAXXAM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MXM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243048</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRUMLEY ELIZABETH D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5847 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 2600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77057</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Nonqualified Stock Option w/ Tandem SAR</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.72</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2080</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitl
e><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2080</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2080</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Stock Option, which has tandem Stock Appreciation Rights, was awarded pursuant to the Issuer's 2002 Omnibus Employee Incentive Plan on December 10, 2003.  20% of such grant will become exercisable on December 10, 2004, with additional 20% increments becoming exercisable on each subsequent anniversary date of such grant until fully vested.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Elizabeth D. Brumley</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDoc
ument>

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