Exhibit 23 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries of our reports dated February 26, 2001 appearing in and incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 29, 2000. Filed on Form S-8: Registration Statement No. 33-41942 (1986 Employee Stock Purchase Plan) Registration Statement No. 33-17908 (Incentive Equity Purchase Plan) Registration Statement No. 33-33336 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan) Registration Statement No. 33-51831 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan) Registration Statement No. 33-51829 (401(k) Savings and Investment Plan) Registration Statement No. 33-54154 (Non-Employee Directors' Equity Plan) Registration Statement No. 33-54572 (401(k) Savings and Investment Plan (Puerto Rico)) Registration Statement No. 33-56427 (Amended and Restated 1994 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Registration Statement No. 33-55155 (1995 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Registration Statement No. 33-60989 (1996 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Registration Statement No. 333-00863 (401(k) Savings & Investment Plan) Registration Statement No. 333-09779 (1997 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Registration Statement No. 333-13367 (Restricted Stock Plan for Former Employees of Hotchkis and Wiley) Registration Statement No. 333-15009 (1997 KECALP Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Registration Statement No. 333-17099 (Deferred Unit and Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors) Registration Statement No. 333-18915 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers) Registration Statement No. 333-32209 (1998 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Registration Statement No. 333-33125 (Employee Stock Purchase Plan for Employees of Merrill Lynch Partnerships) Registration Statement No. 333-41425 (401(k) Savings & Investment Plan) Registration Statement No. 333-56291 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers) Registration Statement No. 333-60211 (1999 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Registration Statement No. 333-62311 (Replacement Options; Midland Walwyn Inc.) Registration Statement No. 333-85421 (401(k) Savings and Investment Plan) Registration Statement No. 333-85423 (2000 Deferred Compensation Plan For a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Registration Statement No. 333-92663 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers) Registration Statement No. 333-44912 (2001 Deferred Compensation Plan for a Select Group of Eligible Employees) Filed on Form S-3: Debt Securities, Warrants, Common Stock, Preferred Securities, and/or Depository Shares: Registration Statement No. 33-54218 Registration Statement No. 2-78338 Registration Statement No. 2-89519 Registration Statement No. 2-83477 Registration Statement No. 33-03602 Registration Statement No. 33-17965 Registration Statement No. 33-27512 Registration Statement No. 33-33335 Registration Statement No. 33-35456 Registration Statement No. 33-42041 Registration Statement No. 33-45327 Registration Statement No. 33-45777 Registration Statement No. 33-49947 Registration Statement No. 33-51489 Registration Statement No. 33-52647 Registration Statement No. 33-55363 Registration Statement No. 33-60413 Registration Statement No. 33-61559 Registration Statement No. 33-65135 Registration Statement No. 333-13649 Registration Statement No. 333-16603 Registration Statement No. 333-20137 Registration Statement No. 333-25255 Registration Statement No. 333-28537 Registration Statement No. 333-42859 Registration Statement No. 333-44173 Registration Statement No. 333-59997 Registration Statement No. 333-68747 Registration Statement No. 333-38792 Registration Statement No. 333-52822 Medium Term Notes: Registration Statement No. 2-96315 Registration Statement No. 33-03079 Registration Statement No. 33-05125 Registration Statement No. 33-09910 Registration Statement No. 33-16165 Registration Statement No. 33-19820 Registration Statement No. 33-23605 Registration Statement No. 33-27549 Registration Statement No. 33-38879 Other Securities: Registration Statement No. 333-02275 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan) Registration Statement No. 333-24889 (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, and Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Managers and Producers) Registration Statement No. 333-36651 (Hotchkis and Wiley Resale) Registration Statement No. 333-59263 (Exchangeable Shares of Merrill Lynch & Co., Canada Ltd. re: Midland Walwyn Inc.) Registration Statement No. 333-67903 (Howard Johnson & Company Resale) Registration Statement No. 333-45880 (Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc. Resale) /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP New York, New York February 26, 2001