<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-12-011213.txt : 20120705
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-12-011213.hdr.sgml : 20120704
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120705130959
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-12-011213
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120702
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120705
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120705

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLACK RONALD D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222711

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22339
		FILM NUMBER:		12947667

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1050 ENTERPRISE WAY, SUITE 700
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAMBUS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000917273
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				943112828
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1050 ENTERPRISE WAY, SUITE 700
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408-462-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1050 ENTERPRISE WAY, SUITE 700
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-07-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000917273</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RAMBUS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RMBS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222711</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLACK RONALD D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1050 ENTERPRISE WAY, SUITE 700</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>595000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-07-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>595000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>595000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>297500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-07-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>297500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>297500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>297500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-07-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>297500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>297500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Ten percent (10%) of the shares subject to the option will vest on January 2, 2013 and one forty-second (1/42) of the shares will vest monthly thereafter until fully vested on the four (4) year anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares subject to the option fully vest on June 25, 2015 if Rambus common stock has previously attained a closing price on NASDAQ of $15.00 or more over any sixty (60) consecutive trading day period.  If such performance milestone is not achieved by June 25, 2015, the option will become fully vested upon the subsequent date, if any, upon which such performance milestone is achieved prior to June 25, 2017, and if such performance milestone is not achieved prior to June 25, 2017, the option will terminate.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares subject to the option fully vest on June 25, 2015 if Rambus common stock has previously attained a closing price on NASDAQ over any sixty (60) consecutive trading day period as follows: 20% will vest with a closing price of $16.00; 20% will vest with a close price of $17.00; 20% will vest with a closing price of $18.00; 20% will vest with a closing price of $19.00; and 20% will vest with a closing price of $20.00.  If the option has not vested, or has only partially vested by June 25, 2015, the option will vest if and to the extent the related performance milestones are achieved prior to June 25, 2017, and if the related performance milestones are not achieved prior to June 25, 2017, the unvested portion of the option will terminate.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Trisha Chan, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-07-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
