Exhibit 23


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 13,
2004, (which reports express unqualified opinions and explanatory paragraphs
relating to the adoption of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards
("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" as amended by SFAS
No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure,
an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123," in 2003, discussed in Note 1 to the
consolidated financial statements), appearing in and incorporated by reference
in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. for the
year ended November 30, 2003, and to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in the reoffer prospectus, which is part of the Registration
Statement.



/s/  Deloitte & Touche LLP

New York, New York
June 29, 2004