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Supplement dated August 7, 2014

to the Prospectus, as supplemented, dated May 1, 2014

for Tri-Continental Corporation

(the Corporation)

Effective August 7, 2014, the following changes are hereby made to the Corporation’s prospectus:

The description of the portfolio managers responsible for the Corporation’s day-to-day portfolio management, as described under the caption “Portfolio Managers” in the Management of the Corporation section is superseded and replaced with the following:

Brian M. Condon, Co-Portfolio Manager

    Managed the Corporation since May 2010.
    Joined the investment manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 1999.
    Began investment career in 1993.
    BA from Bryant University and MS in finance from Bentley University.

Peter Albanese, Co-Portfolio Manager

    Managed the Corporation since August 2014.
    Joined the investment manager in August 2014 as a Senior Portfolio Manager.
    Previously, Mr. Albanese was employed by Robeco Investment Management from 2003 to 2013, where he was a managing director and senior portfolio manager.
    Began investment career in 1991.
    BS from Stony Brook University and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Yan Jin, Co-Portfolio Manager

    Managed the Corporation since March 2012.
    Joined the investment manager in 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since 2002.
    Began investment career in 1998.
    MA in economics from North Carolina State University.

David L. King, Co-Portfolio Manager

    Managed the Corporation since April 2011.
    Joined the investment manager in May 2010 when it acquired the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group, where he worked as an investment professional since March 2010.
    Previously, Mr. King was employed by Putnam Investments from 1983 to 2008, where he was a senior portfolio manager.
    Began investment career in 1983.
    BS from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA. from Harvard Business School.

Shareholders should retain this Supplement for future reference.

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