According to one embodiment, an organic EL element has a first electrode on a first substrate, a first carrier transport layer on the first electrode, an emitting layer on the first carrier transport layer, a second carrier transport layer on the emitting layer, a second electrode on the second carrier transport layer, a first heat absorbing layer on the second electrode, the first heat absorbing layer being separated from a center of the second electrode, and a second substrate on the first heat absorbing layer.