<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001600626-21-000106.txt : 20210329
<SEC-HEADER>0001600626-21-000106.hdr.sgml : 20210329
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210329184849
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001600626-21-000106
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210325
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210329
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210329

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Phillips Craig J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001788418

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-55605
		FILM NUMBER:		21783061

	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_161705811568148.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-03-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001788418</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Phillips Craig J</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>2021-03-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8361</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43264.748</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On March 25, 2021, the Issuer awarded the Reporting Person 8,361 time-based restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;), each of which represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class E Common Stock, and 1/4 of the RSUs will vest equally on each of March 25, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, provided that the Reporting Person remains continuously employed by the Issuer on each such date, subject to certain accelerated vesting provisions as provided in the award agreement for the RSUs.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Managing Director, Industrial Properties</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Javier F. Bitar, pursuant to a power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
