<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-14-009424.txt : 20140530
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-14-009424.hdr.sgml : 20140530
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140530190943
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-14-009424
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140530
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140530

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ISTAR FINANCIAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001095651
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				956881527
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		STREET 2:		39TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129309400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		STREET 2:		39TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STARWOOD FINANCIAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990923

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIDINGS BARRY W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001044258

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15371
		FILM NUMBER:		14881819

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21 LILAC LANE
		CITY:			PRINCETON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08540
</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>2014-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001095651</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ISTAR FINANCIAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001044258</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIDINGS BARRY W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ISTAR FINANCIAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 39TH FLR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8602</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25945</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Equivalents</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6670</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6670</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 22, 2014, the Reporting Person was awarded a total of 8,602 restricted shares of Common Stock of iStar Financial Inc. (NYSE:STAR) in accordance with the provisions of the iStar Financial Inc. Non-Employee Directors' Deferral Plan (Plan), which are owned directly. These shares are restricted and may not be sold or otherwise transferred until they vest on May 22, 2015, the one-year anniversasy of iStar's 2014 annual meeting of shareholders.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Following this transaction, the Reporting Person is the benefical owner of 25,945 shares of iStar Common Stock, which are owned directly.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Reporting Person also holds a total of 6,670 Common Stock Equivalents (CSEs) awarded pursuant to the Plan, all of which are vested. Under the Plan, on the regular distribution date, vested CSEs will be settled by the transfer of shares of iStar Common Stock to the participant. The &quot;regular distribution date&quot; for distributions to Plan participants is the earlier of: (1) January 1 on or next following the earlier of (i) the date the participant ceases to be a non-employee director; and (ii) the date of the participant's death; and (2) a change of control (as defined in the Plan). A participant, under certain limited circumstances, is permitted to elect to receive distributions at times other than the regular distribution date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>S/ BARRY W RIDINGS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-05-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
