An organic electroluminescent element includes a support substrate having thereon at least two light emitting units each containing one or a plurality of organic functional layers and at least one intermediate metal layer having a light-transmitting property. The intermediate metal layer is arranged between the light emitting units. At least one organic functional layer in each light emitting unit has a region wherein a light emission function is modulated and another region wherein the light emission function is not modulated by being patterned with a mask during the step of forming the organic functional layer, and by being additionally patterned by light irradiation after formation of the organic functional layer. The at least two light emitting units are able to be electrically driven independently or simultaneously.