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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OvhFZ/pyy+lc1o2cElGTIXXN1LnnQJN3DDxQCArA5lm1DQmGpe3OzQIQctWazw55
 QlxsDTzrdcWMLbE2K/gE4w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-035965.txt : 20031219
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-035965.hdr.sgml : 20031219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031219142846
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-035965
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAMPEN RICHARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001047092

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05759
		FILM NUMBER:		031064752

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 SE SECOND STREET
		STREET 2:		32ND FLOOR
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33131

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VECTOR GROUP LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000059440
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CIGARETTES [2111]
		IRS NUMBER:				650949535
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 S E SECOND ST
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33131
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3055798000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BROOKE GROUP LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIGGETT GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900815

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIGGETT & MYERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760602
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bmi86405_bmi1rjl.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-18</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000059440</issuerCik><issuerName>VECTOR GROUP LTD</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>VGR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001047092</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>LAMPEN RICHARD</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VECTOR GROUP LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>100 S.E. SECOND ST.</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>33131</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Exec. Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reporting
Owner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.92</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePr
ice><value>3.92</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.92</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-01-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>100000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>119940</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D<
/value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Richard J. Lampen</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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