-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IXiv8V+s3THBUkpWYMv3ywk1aflPnuIvbxiy5rUb2LlSMiV3q2tkTUi1creuRYze
 kERqT/mlE3c/nhix8/Y/VQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-025429.txt : 20040511
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-025429.hdr.sgml : 20040511
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040511181946
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-025429
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040511
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040511

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REALTY INCOME CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000726728
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				330580106
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 W CREST ST
		CITY:			ESCONDIDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92025-1707
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7607412111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 WEST CREST ST
		CITY:			ESCONDIDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92025-1707

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH WILLARD H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181442

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13374
		FILM NUMBER:		04797411

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COHEN & STEERS
		STREET 2:		757 THIRD AVENUE 20TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128323232

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7231 ENCELIA DRIVE
		CITY:			LA JOLLA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92037
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd42183.xml
<DESCRIPTION>WILLARD SMITH - FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000726728</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REALTY INCOME CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>O</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181442</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH WILLARD H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>220 WEST CREST STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ESCONDIDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92025-1707</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-05-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.0625</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-05-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares granted through an incentive plan, no consideration was paid.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Willard H. Smith Jr</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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