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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,
 N0tMabbhgO3ofIUJx8+877DISGGgii1effkROVPmFBxY9FdO3eJ96yUIfMR+dCTs
 lQEQzf+RlU3M9sksWa1b5w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001243048-04-000002.txt : 20041221
<SEC-HEADER>0001243048-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20041221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041221141032
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001243048-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041221

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:		041216700

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-20</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>1330 POST OAK BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77056</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>33.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></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 20, 2004.  20% of such grant will become exercisable on December 20, 2005, with additional 20% increments becoming exercisable on each subsequent anniversary date of such grant until fully vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Elizabeth D. Brumley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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