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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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 5dbW6FLxpOfq9HLQWn9k1Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000777001-03-000072.txt : 20031217
<SEC-HEADER>0000777001-03-000072.hdr.sgml : 20031217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031217161825
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000777001-03-000072
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031217

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:			MOLINARO SAMUEL L JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180153

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08989
		FILM NUMBER:		031060243

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		115 SOUTH JEFFERSON ROAD
		CITY:			WHIPPANY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07981
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9737932267

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		115 S JEFFERSON ROAD
		CITY:			WHIPPANY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07981
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>mol180.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000777001</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180153</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOLINARO SAMUEL L JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BEAR, STEARNS &amp; CO. INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>383 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>EVP/CFO</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>CAP Units 2003</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>0.0000</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-15</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>61533</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>73.7500</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2008-11-30</value>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2008-11-30</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>61533</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>61533</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Emp. Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>73.7500</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-15</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>116582</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2006-12-15</value>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-12-15</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>116582</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>116582</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Deferral of compensation and credit to Reporting Person's Account (as of 12/15/03) pursuant to the Issuer's Capital Accumulation Plan for Senior Managing Directors (CAP Plan); exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>/s/ Molinaro Jr., Samuel L.</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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