-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JzrNs6w4ccUzCXlfB9CwxfG8G0bxu9AkOGUNsCddmsYvkt/iAbG6C90kNSLvt9/W
 kHRB3Pzxg5jkDnsogBU1sA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-009600.txt : 20040407
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-009600.hdr.sgml : 20040407
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040407125701
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-009600
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040407

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:		5000 WESTOWN PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 440
		CITY:			WEST DEMOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50266
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5152210002

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5000 WESTOWN PKWY
		STREET 2:		STE 440
		CITY:			WEST DES MOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50266

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORRIS BENJAMIN T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214494

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31911
		FILM NUMBER:		04721833

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SANDERS MORRIS HARRIS INC
		STREET 2:		600 TRAVIS #3100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7132243100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SANDERS HARRIS MORRIS INC
		STREET 2:		600 TRAVIS #3100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a5a.xml
<DESCRIPTION>5/A
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-02-13</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORRIS BENJAMIN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>600 TRAVIS, SUITE 3100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options-Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-12-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Transaction date, Date Exercisable and Expiration Date are being amended to reflect the correct date when the options were granted.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Debra J. Richardson, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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