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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JW7UnX7YDxdNfCmo/ihs0xHDF2eJK0gYzNyiHl/7MOvmQryIgTD/T9GunJ+GyvqL
 2af14+rsQ4xr07n3f7lUbA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-015029.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-015029.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030723114451
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-015029
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030702
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030723

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAYS THOMAS C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001190586

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09076
		FILM NUMBER:		03797687

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		144 ADELAIDE DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90402

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FORTUNE BRANDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000789073
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HEATING EQUIP, EXCEPT ELEC & WARM AIR & PLUMBING FIXTURES [3430]
		IRS NUMBER:				133295276
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 TOWER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LINCOLNSHIRE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60069
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036985000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN BRANDS INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd13773.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - GIFT REPORT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-02</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000789073</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FORTUNE BRANDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FO</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190586</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAYS THOMAS C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock, Par Value $3.125</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-02</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>2500</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>52.78</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>70802</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
<footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
<footnoteId id="F4"/></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>By trusts for joint benefit of Mr. Hays and his spouse.</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Attached to each share of common stock is one Preferred Share Purchase Right that is not presently transferable separately from the common stock.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Reflects a gift of stock to a charitable foundation from a revocable trust for which Mr. Hays shares voting and investment power.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">In addition to the 70,802 shares held in a trust for the joint benefit of Mr. Hays and his spouse, Mr. Hays may also be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of 9,907 shares held in various trusts for the benefit of family members.  Mr. Hays disclaims beneficial ownership of these 9,907 shares.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">Mr. Hays also indirectly owns 3,998 shares of common stock held by the Fortune Brands, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan Trust as of July 21, 2003.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Russell W. Hahn, Attorney-In-Fact for Mr. Thomas C. Hays</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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