<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001039828-21-000076.txt : 20210909
<SEC-HEADER>0001039828-21-000076.hdr.sgml : 20210909
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210909173016
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001039828-21-000076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210907
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210909
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210909

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Andre Axel
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001881905

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31911
		FILM NUMBER:		211245266

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			WEST DES MOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50266

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001039828
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				421447959
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			WEST DEMOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50266
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5152210002

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			WEST DES MOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50266
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_163122298899460.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-09-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001039828</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001881905</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Andre Axel</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WEST DES MOINES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>50266</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-09-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>43909</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2022-09-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2031-09-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>43909.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43909</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">An award of stock options pursuant to the American Equity Investment Life Holding Company Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, 1/3 of which vest one year from date of grant; 1/3 vest two years from date of grant and 1/3 vest three years from date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit list: Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark A. Schuman, authorized signer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-09-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex-24.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POA - AXEL ANDRE
<TEXT>
<!-- Document created using Workiva -->
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<pre>
EXHIBIT 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, the undersigned officer of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, an Iowa corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints Phyllis J. Zanghi, Mark A. Schuman and/or Anant Bhalla, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, in the name of and on behalf of each of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things that execute any and all reports of stock ownership on Form 3, Form 4 and/or Form 5, and all such related instruments which such attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable American Equity Investment Life Holding Company to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with reports to be filed by certain beneficial owners of securities under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as an officer of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company to one or more Forms 3, 4 or 5 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect thereto, any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to such Forms and to any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with such Forms or amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all that such agent and attorney has done, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of September, 2021.

/s/ Axel Andre
Axel Andre
</pre>
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