content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
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    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001341197</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0001039828</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>American Equity Investment Life Holding Company</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-31911</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>6000 Westown Parkway</com:street1>
          <com:city>West Des Moines</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>IA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>50266</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>515-221-0002</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Robert L. Howe</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>E Trade Financial Corp.</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>200 W Civic Center Drive</com:street1>
            <com:city>Sandy</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>UT</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>84070</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>5000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>270790</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>78300000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>09/20/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>05/12/2021</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock option exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>05/12/2021</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>Robert L. Howe</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>6000 Westown Parkway</com:street1>
            <com:city>West Des Moines</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>IA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>50266</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>08/16/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>266750</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>10/12/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>Mark A. Schuman, authorized signer</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
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text: 144
  0001341197
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001039828
  American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
  001-31911
  6000 Westown Parkway
  West Des Moines
  IA
  50266
  515-221-0002
  Robert L. Howe
  Director
  Common
  E Trade Financial Corp.
  200 W Civic Center Drive
  Sandy
  UT
  84070
  5000
  270790
  78300000
  09/20/2023
  NYSE
  Common
  05/12/2021
  Stock option exercise
  Issuer
  N
  5000
  05/12/2021
  Cash
  N
  Robert L. Howe
  6000 Westown Parkway
  West Des Moines
  IA
  50266
  Common Stock
  08/16/2023
  5000
  266750
  10/12/2023
  Mark A. Schuman, authorized signer