Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0362
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 1.0

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
LINDNER CARL H
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC [AFG] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below)
Chairman of the Board
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

ONE EAST FOURTH STREET		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2008
(Street)


CINCINNATI, OH 45202		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 10/24/2008   P(1) 38,240.615 A $ 19.665 4,018,749 I #1 (2)
Common Stock 12/15/2008   G 8,968 D $ 0 4,009,781 (3) I #1 (2)
Common Stock 10/24/2008   P(1) 2,976.298 A $ 19.665 452,478 (4) I #2 (5)
Common Stock 10/24/2008   P(1) 979.643 A $ 19.665 2,109,725 (3) I #3 (6)
Common Stock 10/24/2008   P(1) 28.439 A $ 19.665 4,323.405 I #4 (7)
Common Stock             4,564,477 (4) I #6 (8)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
LINDNER CARL H
ONE EAST FOURTH STREET
CINCINNATI, OH 45202		   X   X   Chairman of the Board

Signatures

Carl H. Lindner By: Karl J. Grafe, as Attorney-in-Fact 02/13/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Purchased through the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(2) Indirect #1: By Carl H. Lindner Jr., et al. TTEE for the CHL Amended and Restated Family Trust dated 12/12/83.
(3) On 10/22/2008, Indirect #1 transferred to Indirect #3, 1,960,793 shares of AFG Common stock.
(4) On 10/8/2008, Indirect #6 transferred to Indirect #2, 435,523 shares of AFG common stock.
(5) Indirect #2: By Edyth B. Lindner, Spouse.
(6) Indirect #3: EBL TTEE of the Edyth B. Lindner Family Trust Dated 4/13/04.
(7) Indirect #4: By Carl H. Lindner, Jr., et al. Trustee of the CHL Amended and Restated Family Trust dated 1/22/82.
(8) Indirect #6: EBL 2008-1 Qualified Annuity Trust dtd 7/21/08.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.