A magnetic recording medium high in storage stability and excellent in running properties and durability over a wide range of temperature and humidity, which comprises a non-magnetic support having a magnetic layer formed thereon, in which the magnetic recording layer contains a tertiary branched chain fatty acid ester represented by the following general formula ( I ): ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, provided the total number of carbon atoms in the ester is 12 to 40.