-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OT1VvqhpOZ/0Esndh8Fp5CR40IbDaDori50UTemjp0//mCzSV3HevASOvhHZ+Ie4
 bxfngf//ByRArd7lzz4SZw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001362770-08-000003.txt : 20080814
<SEC-HEADER>0001362770-08-000003.hdr.sgml : 20080814
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080814124718
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001362770-08-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080814
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080814

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENERAL GROWTH PROPERTIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895648
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				421283895
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 N WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		STE 3100
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3129605000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 N WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		STE 3100
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Holland Melinda
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001362770

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11656
		FILM NUMBER:		081016936

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		312-960-5000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GENERAL GROWTH PROPERTIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		110 NORTH WACKER DRIVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000895648</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL GROWTH PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GGP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001362770</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Holland Melinda</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GENERAL GROWTH PROPERTIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>110 NORTH WACKER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Business Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.07</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35988</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 615 shares purchased under the General Growth Properties, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the period January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008, which transaction was exempt from Section 16 pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Melinda Holland</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----