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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J6RtOfE2I/ghLOzgqGMIxmrlkAVmYhRoRHgsZZYPL0UndmK0iWlY38He8B4QDVke
 hd58gJqC3xJnDnlCxbe/Hw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000777001-07-000084.txt : 20070601
<SEC-HEADER>0000777001-07-000084.hdr.sgml : 20070601
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070601160733
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000777001-07-000084
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070531
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070601
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000777001
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		IRS NUMBER:				133286161
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE METROTECH NORTH
		STREET 2:		9TH FL
		CITY:			BROOKLYN
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3476439862

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE METROTECH NORTH
		STREET 2:		9TH FL.
		CITY:			BROOKLYN
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NICKELL FRANK T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001034431

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08989
		FILM NUMBER:		07894385

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		24FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127513939

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KELSO CO
		STREET 2:		320 PARK AVENUE 24TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>nic518.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000777001</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001034431</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NICKELL FRANK T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KELSO &amp; COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>320 PARK AVENUE, 24TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-emp. dir. stock options (rt. to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>149.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>125</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-11-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-05-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>125.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>125.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Nickell, Frank T.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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