<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-07-22</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096223</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LUK</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000924255</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEINBERG JOSEPH S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>315 PARK AVENUE SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Shares</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-07-22</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>12500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>6117181</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Shares</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-07-22</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2725208</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>See Explanation</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Consists of 2,678,808 shares held in the JSS 1998 Family Trust and 46,400 shares held by the Reporting Person's wife and daughter.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Joseph S. Steinberg</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-07-29</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-07-22
0
0000096223
LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORP
LUK
0000924255
STEINBERG JOSEPH S
C/O LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORP
315 PARK AVENUE SOUTH
NEW YORK
NY
10010
1
1
1
0
President
Common Shares
2003-07-22
5
G
0
12500
0
D
6117181
D
Common Shares
2003-07-22
5
G
0
0
0
D
2725208
I
See Explanation
Consists of 2,678,808 shares held in the JSS 1998 Family Trust and 46,400 shares held by the Reporting Person's wife and daughter.
Joseph S. Steinberg
2003-07-29