[Conformed copy]








                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934




                         April 18, 2002 (April 18, 2002)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)



                              FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



           Delaware                     1-9076                  13-3295276
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission               (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)              File Number)            Identification No.)



                 300 Tower Parkway, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (847) 484-4400
                                                   -----------------------------



                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT


Item 5.  Other Events.

         Registrant's press release dated April 18, 2002, reporting Registrant's
first quarter 2002 results, is filed herewith as Exhibit 20 and is incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)  Exhibits.

              20.  Press release of Registrant dated April 18, 2002.


                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                               FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
                                               --------------------
                                                   (Registrant)



                                               By   /s/ C. P. Omtvedt
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   C. P. Omtvedt
                                                   Senior Vice President and
                                                     Chief Financial Officer




Date:  April 18, 2002



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



                                                                   Sequentially
Exhibit                                                            Numbered Page
-------                                                            -------------

20.      Press release of Registrant dated April 18, 2002.