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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-02-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001779260</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bushore Michelle</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>See Remarks</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4744</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9910</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1271</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>67.15</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8639</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6001</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14640</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents performance shares awarded as a result of the Company having met certain performance criteria, pursuant to the reporting person's grant on November 15, 2021. Fifty percent of the performance shares immediately vested. The remaining fifty percent are subject to time vesting through December 31, 2023.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares automatically withheld upon the issuance of 2,372 shares of common stock on February 13, 2023, 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>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects the closing sale price of the Issuer's common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on February 13, 2023.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares granted through an incentive plan; no consideration was paid. Shares vest ratably over four years</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Bianca Martinez, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-02-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2023-02-13
0
0000726728
REALTY INCOME CORP
O
0001779260
Bushore Michelle
11995 EL CAMINO REAL
SAN DIEGO
CA
92130
0
1
0
0
See Remarks
Common Stock
2023-02-13
4
A
0
4744
0
A
9910
D
Common Stock
2023-02-13
4
F
0
1271
67.15
D
8639
D
Common Stock
2023-02-13
4
A
0
6001
0
A
14640
D
Represents performance shares awarded as a result of the Company having met certain performance criteria, pursuant to the reporting person's grant on November 15, 2021. Fifty percent of the performance shares immediately vested. The remaining fifty percent are subject to time vesting through December 31, 2023.
Represents shares automatically withheld upon the issuance of 2,372 shares of common stock on February 13, 2023, 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.
Reflects the closing sale price of the Issuer's common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on February 13, 2023.
Shares granted through an incentive plan; no consideration was paid. Shares vest ratably over four years
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary
/s/ Bianca Martinez, by Power of Attorney
2023-02-15