Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
HAYS THOMAS C
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FORTUNE BRANDS INC [FO] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC., 300 TOWER PARKWAY		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/21/2004
(Street)

LINCOLNSHIRE 60069		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1) 12/21/2004   G(2) V 1,000 D $ 76.34 51,352 (1) I By trusts held for the benefit of Mr. Hays and his spouse.
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1)               9,907 (1) I By trusts for the benefit of various family members.
Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 (1)               4,065 (1) (3) I By Fortune Brands Retirement Savings Plan Trust.

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
HAYS THOMAS C
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
300 TOWER PARKWAY
LINCOLNSHIRE 60069		   X      

Signatures

 Russell W. Hahn, Attorney-In-Fact for Mr. Thomas C. Hays   12/23/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Attached to each share of common stock is one preferred share purchase right not presently transferrable.
(2) Reflects a gift of stock to a charitable foundation from a revocable trust for which Mr. Hays shares voting and investment power.
(3) The number of shares reported as held by the Fortune Brands, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan Trust represents the undersigned's proportional beneficial interest in the common stock held as of December 21, 2004.
 
Remarks:
On December 21, 2004, Mr. Hays caused a revocable trust for which he shares voting and investment power to make a gift of 1,000 shares of the issuer's common stock to the 

Thomas C. Hays and Mary Ann Hays Family Foundation, a charitable foundation. After this transaction, Mr. Hays indirectly owns 51,352 shares of the issuer's common stock through 

the revocable trust described above.  In addition, Mr. Hays is deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of 9,907 shares held in various trusts for the benefit of family members, however, 

he disclames beneficial ownership of these shares.  Mr. Hays also owns options to purchase 260,500 shares of the issuer's common stock and

holds 4,065 shares through the Fortune Brands Retirements Savings Plan.

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