EXHIBIT 32.1


                  CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER


                                   PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

      I, Keith A. Meister, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal
Executive Officer) of American Property Investors, Inc., the General Partner of
American Real Estate Partners, L.P. (the "Registrant"), certify that to the best
of my knowledge, based upon a review of the Current Report of the Registrant on
Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof
(the "Report"):

            (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a)
      or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

            (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
      material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
      the Registrant.



                                                  /s/ KEITH A. MEISTER
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                    KEITH A. MEISTER
                                        PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
                                            AMERICAN PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC.,
                                                  THE GENERAL PARTNER OF
Date: August 30, 2004                       AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.