<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001600626-21-000020.txt : 20210104
<SEC-HEADER>0001600626-21-000020.hdr.sgml : 20210104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210104140435
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001600626-21-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20201231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bushman Travis W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001799370

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-55605
		FILM NUMBER:		21501185

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1520 E. GRAND AVENUE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001600626
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				464654479
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3104696100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1520 EAST GRAND AVENUE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT II, Inc.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20140220
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_160978706066670.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001600626</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>N/A</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001799370</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bushman Travis W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1520 E. GRAND AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>See Remarks</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2979.95</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23758.05</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of Class E Common Stock of the Issuer withheld by the Issuer to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting, on December 31, 2020, of 6,684.50 previously reported, time-based restricted stock units granted to the Reporting Person on January 15, 2020. The shares of Class E Common Stock underlying the restricted stock units were delivered upon vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Managing Director, Asset Management</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Javier F. Bitar, pursuant to a power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
