<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000810902
<NAME> BARON ASSET FUND

   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> BARON ASSET FUND

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    2,930,854,546
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   4,931,877,473
<RECEIVABLES>                               18,614,537
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                         33,064,196
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       77,623,484
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
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<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              73,366,007
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                   (59,042,149)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   472,473,173
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  728,335,860
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                    1,141,766,884
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                     18,148,606
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               (54,213,058)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                   (945,675,209)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
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<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.76)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                  0.013