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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001490409</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Case John</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO &amp; Director</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16779</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>57.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>182045</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <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>24033</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>57.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>158012</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 32,157 restricted shares of common stock on December 31, 2016, 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="F2">This amount represents shares automatically withheld upon the vesting of 44,034 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>John P. Case</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2016-12-31
0
0000726728
REALTY INCOME CORP
O
0001490409
Case John
11995 EL CAMINO REAL
SAN DIEGO
CA
92130
1
1
0
0
CEO & Director
Common Stock
2016-12-31
4
F
0
16779
57.48
D
182045
D
Common Stock
2017-01-01
4
F
0
24033
57.48
D
158012
D
This amount represents shares automatically withheld upon the vesting of 32,157 restricted shares of common stock on December 31, 2016, 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.
This amount represents shares automatically withheld upon the vesting of 44,034 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.
John P. Case
2017-01-04