<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-12-011159.txt : 20120703
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-12-011159.hdr.sgml : 20120703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120703172122
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-12-011159
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120525
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120703
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120703

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACERICH CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912242
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				954448705
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3103946000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BLVD SUITE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COPPOLA EDWARD C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023135

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12504
		FILM NUMBER:		12946139

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		233 WILSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
</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>2012-05-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912242</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MACERICH CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001023135</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COPPOLA EDWARD C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE MACERICH COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>401 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD #700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>352874</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>90000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>58.5966</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>262874</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sale price ranged from $58.25 to $58.89 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">39,969 shares are also held by E.C. Coppola Limited Partnership.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held through this partnership for his wife and children and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such shares for purposes of Section 16 or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">3,850 shares are also held indirectly by the reporting person through the Company's 401(k) Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">5,053 shares are also held by Mr. Coppola for his children.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by his children and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such shares for purposes of Section 16 or otherwise.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Madonna R. Shannon for EDWARD C. COPPOLA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-07-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
