<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-17-009855.txt : 20170630
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-17-009855.hdr.sgml : 20170630
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170630202358
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-17-009855
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170630
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170630

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 ARTHUR M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022054

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12504
		FILM NUMBER:		17943777

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE MACERICH COMPANY
		STREET 2:		401 WILSHIRE BVLD., STE. 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>2017-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001022054</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COPPOLA ARTHUR M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE MACERICH COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>401 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 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>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>58.1282</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>96053</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales price ranged from $57.77 to $58.565.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">488 shares are also held by Mr. Coppola's minor child. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by his child and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such shares for the purposes of Section 16 or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">In addition, the reporting person holds 107,679 vested stock appreciation rights and the following limited partnership units in The Macerich Partnership, L.P., which are generally redeemable upon certain circumstances for an equal number of shares of The Macerich Company's common stock: 737,603 OP Units held directly by the reporting person and 1,764,055 OP Units held through family limited liabilities companies of which the reporting person is the sole manager.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas J. Leanse for ARTHUR M. COPPOLA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
