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| <?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
| <ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0508 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2024-02-29 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> 0 </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0001039828 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> AEL </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0002007017 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> Askelsen Erik H. </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> EVP & General Counsel </officerTitle> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <aff10b5One> 0 </aff10b5One> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2024-02-29 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> A </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 8102 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 8102 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable></derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> Time-based restricted stock units awarded under the American Equity Investment Life Holding Company 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, vesting in three substantially equal parts beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <remarks></remarks> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Shari Wood, authorized signatory </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2024-03-04 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |
