<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
ANNUAL REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY MUTUAL FUNDS, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000100334
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 12
<NAME> GROWTH FUND - INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 7,621,633
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 9,833,732
<RECEIVABLES> 168,092
<ASSETS-OTHER> 11,707
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,013,531
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 322,305
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10,941
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 333,246
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 32
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 6,412,451
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,154
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,052
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (30,643)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,090,985
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 220,460
<NET-ASSETS> 9,680,285
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 38,116
<INTEREST-INCOME> 32,119
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 100,878
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (30,643)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,120,466
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (172,329)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 917,494
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (297)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3,335
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (237)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 10
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1,333,443
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,068,029
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 48,634
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 48,703
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 26,602
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 31.66
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.72
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (4.20)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 31.15
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.80
</TABLE>
