<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-12-012333.txt : 20120802
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-12-012333.hdr.sgml : 20120802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120802191146
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-12-012333
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120802
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120802

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Holt Sharon E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001299510

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22339
		FILM NUMBER:		121004872

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RAMBUS INC.
		STREET 2:		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>2012-08-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001299510</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Holt Sharon E</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>SVP, GM SBG</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares subject to the option fully vest on August 1, 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 August 1, 2015, the option will become fully vested upon the subsequent date, if any, upon which such performance milestone is achieved prior to August 1, 2017, and if such performance milestone is not achieved prior to August 1, 2017,  the option will terminate.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares subject to the option fully vest on August 1, 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 August 1, 2015, the option will vest if and to the extent the related performance milestones are achieved prior to August 1, 2017, and if the related performance milestones are not achieved prior to August 1, 2017, the unvested portion of the option will terminate.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Trisha Chan, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
