EXHIBIT 32.1

                  CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                                  PURSUANT TO
                 SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     I, Keith A. Meister, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal
Executive Officer) of American Property Investors, Inc., the General Partner of
American Real Estate Partners, L.P. (the "Registrant"), certify that to the best
of my knowledge, based upon a review of the American Real Estate Partners, L.P.,
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2004 of the
Registrant (the "Report"):

          (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a)
     or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

          (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
     material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Registrant.

                                                 /s/ KEITH A. MEISTER
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                     KEITH A. MEISTER
                                          PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                                            OF
                                            AMERICAN PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC.,
                                                  THE GENERAL PARTNER OF
                                           AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.

Date: May 10, 2004