<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001039828-24-000056.txt : 20240506
<SEC-HEADER>0001039828-24-000056.hdr.sgml : 20240506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240506152229
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001039828-24-000056
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20240502
FILED AS OF DATE:		20240506
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240506

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MULCAHY DAVID S.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001260541
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31911
		FILM NUMBER:		24917211

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2900 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
		CITY:			AMES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50010

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MULCAHY DAVID S
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030819

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001039828
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	02 Finance
		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>wk-form4_1715023336.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-05-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260541</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MULCAHY DAVID S.</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2024-05-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>119364</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 2, 2024, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), dated as of July 4, 2023, by and among the Issuer, Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company limited by shares (Parent), Arches Merger Sub, Inc., an Iowa corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), and Brookfield Asset Management Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia (BAM), the Issuer merged with and into Merger Sub, with the Issuer surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the Merger).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time), each issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Issuer (AEL Common Stock) was exchanged for (i) $38.85 per share in cash, without interest (the Cash Consideration) and (ii) a number of fully-paid and nonassessable shares of class A limited voting shares of BAM (BAM Class A Stock) equal to the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (the Stock Consideration, together with the Cash Consideration, the Merger Consideration), for an aggregate value of $56.50 per share of AEL Common Stock based on the 10-day volume-weighted average share price of BAM Class A Stock (measured five business days prior to May 2, 2024) (the BAM Class A Stock Price).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 3,303 shares of AEL Common Stock subject to vesting conditions (AEL Restricted Stock).  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each award of AEL Restricted Stock that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time automatically had any restrictions thereon lapsed and was converted into the right to receive a cash payment, without interest, equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of AEL Restricted Stock subject to such award immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) $55.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David S. Mulcahy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
