<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096223</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LUK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213617</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOWENTHAL BARBARA L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>315 PARK AVENUE SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>20TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President and Comptroller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to Purchase Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-10-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stock options were granted under the Leucadia National Corporation 1999 Stock Option Plan, as amended.  Pursuant to their
 terms, these options become exercisable at the rate of 20% per year commencing on October 22, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Barbara L. Lowenthal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-10-22
0
0000096223
LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORP
LUK
0001213617
LOWENTHAL BARBARA L
315 PARK AVENUE SOUTH
20TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10010
0
1
0
0
Vice President and Comptroller
Options to Purchase Common Shares
27.88
2008-10-22
4
A
0
65000
A
2014-10-22
Common Shares
65000
65000
D
The stock options were granted under the Leucadia National Corporation 1999 Stock Option Plan, as amended.  Pursuant to their
 terms, these options become exercisable at the rate of 20% per year commencing on October 22, 2009.
Not applicable.
/s/ Barbara L. Lowenthal
2008-10-22