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  <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Pursuant to Section&#160;13 or 15(d) of the</font></div>
  
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  <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Date of report: <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">March 22</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">, 2012</font></font></div>
  
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  <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</font></div>
  
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  <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></div>
  
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "REALTY INCOME CORP", "cik": "0000726728", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "330580106", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-13374", "film-number": "12709989"}, "business-address": {"street1": "600 LA TERRAZA BLVD", "city": "ESCONDIDO", "state": "CA", "zip": "92025", "phone": "7607412111"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "600 LA TERRAZA BLVD", "city": "ESCONDIDO", "state": "CA", "zip": "92025"}}
text: ri8k_032012.htm
  United States
  Securities and Exchange Commission
  Washington, D.C. 20549
  Form 8-K
  Current Report
  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  Date of report:
  March 22
  , 2012
  REALTY INCOME CORPORATION
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Maryland
  1-13374
  33-0580106
  (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
  (Commission File Number)
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  600 La Terraza Boulevard, Escondido, California 92025-3873
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  (760) 741-2111
  (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  N/A
  (former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
  [   ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [   ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  [   ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  [   ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 8.01
  Other Events
  On March 22, 2012, Realty Income Corporation (the "Company") filed a prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in its registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-179872) with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The prospectus supplement was filed in connection with the Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan under which it is offering 5,921,146 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
  In connection with the filing of the prospectus supplement, the Company is filing as Exhibit 5.1 hereto an opinion of its counsel, Venable LLP, regarding the validity of the securities being registered.  Additionally, in connection with the filing of the prospectus supplement, the Company is filing as Exhibit 8.1 hereto an opinion of its counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP, with respect to tax matters.
  Item 9.01
  Financial
  Statements and Exhibits
  (d)  Exhibits
  5.1
  Opinion of Venable LLP.
  8.1
  Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  Dated: March 22, 2012
  REALTY INCOME CORPORATION
  By:
  /s/ PAUL M. MEURER
  Paul M. Meurer
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  Exhibit No.
  Description
  5.1
  Opinion of Venable LLP.
  8.1
  Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.