<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001660222</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nguyen Danthanh</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11995 EL CAMINO REAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Leasing &amp; Disp.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1935</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>57.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26406</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This amount represents shares automatically withheld upon the vesting of 3,571 restricted shares of common stock on January 1, 2017, which amount is determined based upon the greater of such holder's minimum required tax withholding rate or the highest withholding rate permitted under the rules of the applicable taxing authority for tax withholding.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dan-Thanh Nguyen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2017-01-01
0
0000726728
REALTY INCOME CORP
O
0001660222
Nguyen Danthanh
11995 EL CAMINO REAL
SAN DIEGO
CA
92130
0
1
0
0
SVP, Leasing & Disp.
Common Stock
2017-01-01
4
F
0
1935
57.48
D
26406
D
This amount represents shares automatically withheld upon the vesting of 3,571 restricted shares of common stock on January 1, 2017, which amount is determined based upon the greater of such holder's minimum required tax withholding rate or the highest withholding rate permitted under the rules of the applicable taxing authority for tax withholding.
Dan-Thanh Nguyen
2017-01-04