<?xml version="1.0"?>
<edgarSubmission>

    <schemaVersion>X0603</schemaVersion>

    <submissionType>D</submissionType>

    <testOrLive>LIVE</testOrLive>

    <primaryIssuer>
        <cik>0001135856</cik>
        <entityName>NATIONWIDE PRIVATE PLACEMENT VARIABLE ACCOUNT</entityName>
        <issuerAddress>
            <street1>ONE NATIONWIDE PLAZA</street1>
            <city>COLUMBUS</city>
            <stateOrCountry>OH</stateOrCountry>
            <zipCode>43215</zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerPhoneNumber>614-249-7111</issuerPhoneNumber>
        <jurisdictionOfInc>OHIO</jurisdictionOfInc>
        <issuerPreviousNameList>
            <value>None</value>
        </issuerPreviousNameList>
        <edgarPreviousNameList>
            <value>None</value>
        </edgarPreviousNameList>
        <entityType>Other</entityType>
        <entityTypeOtherDesc>Private Placement Variable Account</entityTypeOtherDesc>
        <yearOfInc>
            <overFiveYears>true</overFiveYears>
        </yearOfInc>
    </primaryIssuer>

    <relatedPersonsList>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Stephen</firstName>
                <middleName>S.</middleName>
                <lastName>Rasmussen</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>One Nationwide Plaza</street1>
                <city>Columbus</city>
                <stateOrCountry>OH</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>43215</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Timothy</firstName>
                <middleName>G.</middleName>
                <lastName>Frommeyer</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>One Nationwide Plaza</street1>
                <city>Columbus</city>
                <stateOrCountry>OH</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>43215</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Peter</firstName>
                <middleName>A.</middleName>
                <lastName>Golato</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>One Nationwide Plaza</street1>
                <city>Columbus</city>
                <stateOrCountry>OH</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>43215</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Kirk</firstName>
                <middleName>A.</middleName>
                <lastName>Walker</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>One Nationwide Plaza</street1>
                <city>Columbus</city>
                <stateOrCountry>OH</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>43215</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Mark</firstName>
                <middleName>R.</middleName>
                <lastName>Thresher</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>One Nationwide Plaza</street1>
                <city>Columbus</city>
                <stateOrCountry>OH</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>43215</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
    </relatedPersonsList>

    <offeringData>
        <industryGroup>
            <industryGroupType>Insurance</industryGroupType>
        </industryGroup>
        <issuerSize>
            <revenueRange>Not Applicable</revenueRange>
        </issuerSize>
        <federalExemptionsExclusions>
            <item>06</item>
        </federalExemptionsExclusions>
        <typeOfFiling>
            <newOrAmendment>
                <isAmendment>false</isAmendment>
            </newOrAmendment>
            <dateOfFirstSale>
                <value>2002-04-25</value>
            </dateOfFirstSale>
        </typeOfFiling>
        <durationOfOffering>
            <moreThanOneYear>true</moreThanOneYear>
        </durationOfOffering>
        <typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
            <isOtherType>true</isOtherType>
            <descriptionOfOtherType>Variable Insurance Products PPL965, PPL1071, PPL1179, PPL1211</descriptionOfOtherType>
        </typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
        <businessCombinationTransaction>
            <isBusinessCombinationTransaction>false</isBusinessCombinationTransaction>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </businessCombinationTransaction>
        <minimumInvestmentAccepted>0</minimumInvestmentAccepted>
        <salesCompensationList>
            <recipient>
                <recipientName>Kenneth Dayton</recipientName>
                <recipientCRDNumber>2257725</recipientCRDNumber>
                <associatedBDName>Newport Group Securitites, Inc.</associatedBDName>
                <associatedBDCRDNumber>29722</associatedBDCRDNumber>
                <recipientAddress>
                    <street1>300 International Pkwy</street1>
                    <street2>Ste 270</street2>
                    <city>Heathrow</city>
                    <stateOrCountry>FL</stateOrCountry>
                    <zipCode>32746</zipCode>
                </recipientAddress>
                <statesOfSolicitationList>
                    <state>GA</state>
                </statesOfSolicitationList>
            </recipient>
            <recipient>
                <recipientName>Richard Couse, Jr.</recipientName>
                <recipientCRDNumber>2442903</recipientCRDNumber>
                <associatedBDName>NFP Securities, Inc</associatedBDName>
                <associatedBDCRDNumber>42046</associatedBDCRDNumber>
                <recipientAddress>
                    <street1>5008 Pine Creek Dr.</street1>
                    <street2>Ste B</street2>
                    <city>Westerville</city>
                    <stateOrCountry>OH</stateOrCountry>
                    <zipCode>43081</zipCode>
                </recipientAddress>
                <statesOfSolicitationList>
                    <state>GA</state>
                </statesOfSolicitationList>
            </recipient>
        </salesCompensationList>
        <offeringSalesAmounts>
            <totalOfferingAmount>15001709</totalOfferingAmount>
            <totalAmountSold>9532060</totalAmountSold>
            <totalRemaining>5469649</totalRemaining>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </offeringSalesAmounts>
        <investors>
            <hasNonAccreditedInvestors>false</hasNonAccreditedInvestors>
            <totalNumberAlreadyInvested>1</totalNumberAlreadyInvested>
        </investors>
        <salesCommissionsFindersFees>
            <salesCommissions>
                <dollarAmount>1721278</dollarAmount>
            </salesCommissions>
            <findersFees>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </findersFees>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </salesCommissionsFindersFees>
        <useOfProceeds>
            <grossProceedsUsed>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </grossProceedsUsed>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </useOfProceeds>
        <signatureBlock>
            <authorizedRepresentative>false</authorizedRepresentative>
            <signature>
                <issuerName>NATIONWIDE PRIVATE PLACEMENT VARIABLE ACCOUNT</issuerName>
                <signatureName>/s/Timothy D. Crawford</signatureName>
                <nameOfSigner>Timothy D. Crawford</nameOfSigner>
                <signatureTitle>Associate Vice President</signatureTitle>
                <signatureDate>2010-01-15</signatureDate>
            </signature>
        </signatureBlock>
    </offeringData>
</edgarSubmission>
