-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 4VegKaWQG9By9YYa6esT8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001214319-03-000001.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0001214319-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030519111153
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001214319-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030519

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000051644
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-ADVERTISING AGENCIES [7311]
		IRS NUMBER:				131024020
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1271 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		STREET 2:		44TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-399-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		136 MADISON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10016

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCCANN ERICKSON INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710715

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOONER JOHN J JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214319

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06686
		FILM NUMBER:		03709943

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1271 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 44TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123998000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1271 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 44TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-19</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000051644</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IPG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214319</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOONER JOHN J JR</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>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qual Stock Options</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>43.6875</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-19</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>248000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>43.6875</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-03-24</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>248000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1586949</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qual Stock Options</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>41.8438</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-19</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>152000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>41.8438</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-12-15</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>152000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1434949</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qual Stock Options</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>60</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-19</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value>E</value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>100000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>60</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-12-15</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-12-15</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>100000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1334949</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This filing reflects the voluntary election by the reporting person to relinquish stock options back to the issuer.  The reporting person is receiving NO compensation in exchange for said options in any other way.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options were exercisable as follows: 128,000 exercisable now; 60,000 shares exercisable 3/24/04; 60,000 shares exercisable 3/24/05</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Came from grant lot of 200,000 shares exercisable as follows: 80,000 on 12/15/03; 60,000 on 12/15/04; 60,000 on 12/15/05</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares were to be exercisable on or after 12/15/01 as soon as issuer's stock price hit $60 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John J. Dooner, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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