-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RBpZoECLrxal7E4+mfGRi4hEhKSZgfSuvkXY/COt4AgqIhRgIoS2g9eTPJD0OW8q
 HP6VNoBeeXhoebqTSfDpNw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-009604.txt : 20031030
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-009604.hdr.sgml : 20031030
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031030155753
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-009604
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031029
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031030

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAING DIANA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001266612

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12504
		FILM NUMBER:		03966769

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACERICH CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912242
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				954448705
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3103946000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 WILSHIRE BLVD SUITE 700
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-29</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912242</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MACERICH CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAC</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266612</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAING DIANA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE MACERICH COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>401 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD #700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-29</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>232</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>39.87</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>232</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>232</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Convertible on a 1 for 1 basis into Common Stock.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The shares attributable to the Phantom Stock Units first become distributable upon the January 1 following the date of termination of service, pursuant to earlier elections in accordance with the Plan terms.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Madonna R. Shannon for DIANA LAING</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-30</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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