SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                                 (RULE 13d-102)

   Information to be Included in Statements Filed Pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(b),
        (c) and (d) and Amendments Thereto Filed Pursuant to ss.240.13d-2

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                               (Amendment No.__)*


                            Chimera Investment Corp.

                         ------------------------------

                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
                         ------------------------------

                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    16934Q109
                         ------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                December 31, 2008

             -------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

            Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant
                        to which this Schedule is filed:

                                (x) Rule 13d-1(b)
                                ( ) Rule 13d-1(c)
                               ( ) Rule 13d-1(d)

----------------
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
                        (Continued on following page(s))







1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

         TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP     (a) ( )
                                                              (b) ( )


3.       SEC USE ONLY


4.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

         Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

         5.    SOLE VOTING POWER                           8,361,327

         6.    SHARED VOTING POWER                         0

         7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER                      8,361,327

         8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER                    0

9.       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                    8,361,327

10.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE  AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         ( )


11.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

                                      4.87%

12.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

                                       IA








1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

         Teachers Advisors, Inc.

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP     (a) ( )
                                                              (b) ( )


3.       SEC USE ONLY


4.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

         Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

         5.    SOLE VOTING POWER                           2,576,865

         6.    SHARED VOTING POWER                         0

         7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER                      2,576,865

         8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER                    0

9.       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                    2,576,865

10.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
         ( )


11.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

                                      1.50%

12.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

                                       IA







ITEM 1(a).         NAME OF ISSUER:

                        Chimera Investment Corp.

ITEM 1(b).         ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

                        1211 Avenue of the Americas
                        Suite 2902
                        New York, NY 10036

ITEMS 2(a)-2(c).   NAME, ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE, AND CITIZENSHIP
                   OF PERSONS FILING:

                        TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC
                         ("Investment Management")
                        730 Third Avenue
                        New York, NY  10017-3206
                        Citizenship:  Delaware

                        Teachers Advisors, Inc. ("Advisors")
                        730 Third Avenue
                        New York, NY  10017-3206
                        Citizenship:  Delaware


ITEM 2(d).         TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:

                           Common Stock

ITEM 2(e).         CUSIP NUMBER:

                           16934Q109

ITEM 3.            IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO ss.240.13d-1(b), OR
                   ss.240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:


INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

(a)      ( )      Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange
                  Act.

(b)      ( )      Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.

(c)      ( )      Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the
                  Exchange Act.

(d)      ( )      Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
                  Investment Company Act.

(e)      (x)      An investment adviser in accordance with
                  Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

(f)      ( )      An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
                  Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

(g)      ( )      A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
                  Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

(h)      ( )      A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
                  Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

(i)      ( )      A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
                  investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
                  Company Act.




(j)      ( )      Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).


ADVISORS

(a)      ( )      Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange
                  Act.

(b)      ( )      Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.

(c)      ( )      Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the
                  Exchange Act.

(d)      ( )      Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
                  Investment Company Act.

(e)      (x)      An investment adviser in accordance with
                  Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

(f)      ( )      An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
                  Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

(g)      ( )      A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
                  Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

(h)      ( )      A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
                  Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

(i)      ( )      A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
                  investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
                  Company Act.

(j)      ( )      Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).


If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box. ( )


ITEM 4.           OWNERSHIP

         Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1:

         (a) Aggregate amount beneficially owned: 10,938,192 (See Exhibit A)

         (b) Percent of class:                       6.37%

         (c) Number of shares as to which the person has:

                            INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT        ADVISORS

Sole Voting Power:          8,361,327                    2,576,865

Shared Voting Power:        0                            0

Sole Dispositive Power:     8,361,327                    2,576,865

Shared Dispositive Power:   0                            0


ITEM 5.           OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.

                  If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
                  the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the
                  beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of
                  securities, check the following ( ).






ITEM 6.           OWNERSHIP  OF MORE THAN FIVE  PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
                  PERSON.

                  See Exhibit A

ITEM 7.           IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
                  ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
                  COMPANY.

                  Not Applicable

ITEM 8.           IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

                  Not Applicable

ITEM 9.           NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.

                  Not Applicable


ITEM 10.          CERTIFICATIONS.

                  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
                  and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and
                  are held in the ordinary course of business and were not
                  acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
                  effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
                  the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
                  connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
                  that purpose or effect.


                  SIGNATURE.

                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
                  belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
                  statement is true, complete and correct.

                  Date: February 13, 2009

                                            TIAA-CREF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

                                            By: /s/ MICHAEL ALBERT
                                                ------------------
                                            Michael Albert
                                            Managing Director, Control Services



                                            TEACHERS ADVISORS, INC.

                                            By: /s/ MIKE ALBERT
                                                ---------------
                                            Michael Albert
                                            Managing Director, Control Services







                                    EXHIBIT A
                                    ---------

ITEM 6.  OWNERSHIP.

TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC ("Investment Management") acts as the
investment adviser to the College Retirement Equities Fund ("CREF"), a
registered investment company, and may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of
2,576,865 shares of Issuer's common stock owned by CREF. Teachers Advisors, Inc.
("Advisors") is the investment adviser to three registered investment companies,
TIAA-CREF Funds ("Mutual Funds"), TIAA-CREF Life Funds ("Life Funds"), and TIAA
Separate Account VA-1 ("VA-1"), as well as the TIAA-CREF Asset Management
Commingled Funds Trust I ("TCAM Funds"), and may be deemed to be a beneficial
owner of 8,361,327 shares of Issuer's common stock owned by the Mutual Funds,
Life Funds and VA-1. Investment Management and Advisors are reporting their
combined holdings for the purpose of administrative convenience. These shares
were acquired in the ordinary course of business, and not with the purpose or
effect of changing or influencing control of the Issuer. Each of Investment
Management and Advisors expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the other's
securities holdings and each disclaims that it is a member of a "group" with the
other.