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 June 30, 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
Date: August 9, 2004                      AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, L.P.