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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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) 04/25/2005 (Street) LINCOLNSHIRE, IL 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 04/25/2005   M(1)   40,000 A $ 38.69 91,352 D   Common Stock, Par Value $3.125 04/25/2005   S   40,000 D $ 87.35 51,352 I By trusts held for the benefit of Mr. Hays and his spouse. Common Stock, Par Value $3.125               9,907 I By trusts for the benefit of various family members. Common Stock, Par Value $3.125               4,066 (2) 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

Options (Right to Buy)

$ 38.69

04/25/2005

M(1)

40,000

02/23/1999

02/23/2008

Common Stock

40,000

$ 38.69

30,500

D

Reporting Owners

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

Signatures

Mark A. Roche, Attorney-in-fact for Thomas C. Hays		04/27/2005
**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)	Reflects the exercise of options granted under the issuer's Long-Term Incentive Plans.
(2)	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 in the Trust as of April 25, 2005.
Remarks: On April 25, 2005 Mr. Hays purchased and subsequently sold 40,000 shares of the issuer's common stock granted to him under the issuer's Long-Term Incentive Plans. After this this transaction, Mr. Hays indirectly owns 51,352 shares of the issuer's common stock through the trusts 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 disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.   Mr. Hays also owns options to purchase 220,500 shares of the issuer's common stock and holds 4,066 shares through his participation in the Fortune Brands Retirement Savings Plan.

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