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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UamnpRCvs9fcv5v/fAeL9kf6cfDW6PNSh2q1BB/UvSWujpZtBqdMUFr+kl+CfrO4
 1lN13OdD1kNd71mhEtX9+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-08-066578.txt : 20081210
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-08-066578.hdr.sgml : 20081210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081210125734
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-08-066578
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081210

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000794685
		IRS NUMBER:				222736509
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORP CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149215070

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITIGROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000831001
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04700
		FILM NUMBER:		081240437

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		399 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125591000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		399 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10043

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRAVELERS GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950519

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRAVELERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940103

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PRIMERICA CORP /NEW/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd225549.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 - GAB
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-30</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000794685</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GAB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000831001</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CITIGROUP INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>399 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Auction Rate Preferred</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5248</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Subsidiary</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Auction Preferred Shares (&quot;Shares&quot;) reported in Table I represent 5,248 Shares beneficially owned by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (&quot;CGMI&quot;). Citigroup Financial Products Inc. (&quot;CFP&quot;) is the sole stockholder of CGMI. Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. (&quot;CGMHI&quot;) is the sole stockholder of CFP. Citigroup Inc. (&quot;Citigroup&quot;) is the sole stockholder of CGMHI.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The 5,248 Shares reported herein represent Citigroup?s combined holdings in multiple series of auction preferred securities of the issuer, which are treated herein as one class of securities in accordance with the Auction Rate Securities -- Global Exemptive Relief no-action letter issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 22, 2008.  Citigroup undertakes to provide, upon request by the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, complete information regarding the number of securities purchased or sold at each different price and date of all transactions in such securities that occurred after Citigroup became a 10% owner but prior to the date of this filing.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Citigroup Inc., By: /s/ Riqueza V. Feaster, Assistant Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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