-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 gXq5O3XkjqGZsbiGb/X2rw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-07-014736.txt : 20070711
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-07-014736.hdr.sgml : 20070711
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070711193156
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-07-014736
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070709
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070711
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070711

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ISTAR FINANCIAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001095651
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 27TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129309494

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 27TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STARWOOD FINANCIAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990923

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUGARMAN JAY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001220479

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15371
		FILM NUMBER:		07975112

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		24301 WALDEN CENTER DR
		CITY:			BONITA SPRINGS
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34134
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001095651</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ISTAR FINANCIAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001220479</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUGARMAN JAY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33001</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.841</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1795637</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>650688</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By family trusts</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">A total of 33,001 shares of common stock of iStar Financial Inc. have been sold for the account of the reporting person on July 9, 2007, at an average price of $45.841 per share. These sales were made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 sales plan originally adopted by the reporting person on June 21, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On June 21, 2007, an aggregate of 267,308 shares of iStar common stock held by family trusts established for the benefit of the reporting person's children (and indirectly beneficially owned by the reporting person) were transferred to the reporting person and held by him directly. In addition, on June 22, 2007, 250,000 shares of iStar common stock held by the reporting person directly were transferred to a family trust established for the benefit of the reporting person's children (and indirectly beneficially owned by the reporting person).  These transactions are exempt from reporting under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are being voluntarily reported herein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Following the completion of these transactions, the reporting person is the beneficial owner of a total of 2,446,325 shares of common stock of iStar Financial Inc., of which 1,795,637 shares are owned directly and 650,688 shares are owned indirectly through family trusts. In addition, the reporting person owns an aggregate of 131,397 restricted stock units that have not yet vested, representing the right to receive an equivalent number of shares of iStar common stock if and when the units vest, 27,382 of which units were granted pursuant to an award dated March 2, 2006 and 104,015 of which units were granted pursuant to an award dated January 19, 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/ Jay Sugarman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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