Exhibit 5.1

April 11, 2001


Board of Directors
Wells Fargo & Company
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94163

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the proposed registration by Wells Fargo & Company, a
Delaware corporation ("Wells Fargo"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of 2,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value of $1-2/3 per share,
and associated preferred stock purchase rights (such shares and rights
collectively the "Shares"), that may be issued by Wells Fargo under the Wells
Fargo & Company Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "Plan"), I
have examined such corporate records and other documents, including the
registration statement on Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to the Shares (the "Registration Statement"), and have
reviewed such matters of law as I have deemed necessary for this opinion.  I
advise you that in my opinion:

1.   Wells Fargo is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
     the state of Delaware.

2.   The Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be
     legally and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
     Statement.

Very truly yours,
/s/ Stanley S. Stroup
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Wells Fargo & Company