History of Martha Stewart in Timeline
Martha Stewart is an American businesswoman, writer, and television personality known for founding Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Her company focused on home and hospitality and achieved success through publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and e-commerce. She authored bestselling books, published Martha Stewart Living magazine, and hosted syndicated television programs like Martha Stewart Living and The Martha Stewart Show, building a significant brand around her lifestyle expertise.
1912: Birth of Martha Stewart's Father
In 1912, Edward Kostyra, Martha Stewart's father, was born. He passed away in 1979.
1914: Birth of Martha Stewart's Mother
In 1914, Martha (née Ruszkowski), Martha Stewart's mother, was born. She passed away in 2007.
1922: Skylands Gardens designed
In 1922, the gardens at Skylands, the former summer estate of Edsel Ford on Mount Desert Island in Seal Harbor, Maine which Martha Stewart later acquired, were designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen.
August 3, 1941: Martha Stewart's Birth
On August 3, 1941, Martha Helen Stewart (née Kostyra) was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. She would later become a retail business woman, writer, and television personality known for founding Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
July 1961: Marriage to Andrew Stewart
In July 1961, Martha Stewart married Andrew Stewart, who had completed his law degree at Yale Law School.
1961: Marriage to Andrew Stewart
In 1961, Martha Kostyra married Andrew Stewart, then a student at Yale Law School.
1965: Birth of Daughter Alexis
In 1965, Martha and Andrew Stewart's only child, daughter Alexis, was born.
1967: Beginning Career as a Stockbroker
In 1967, Martha Stewart began a second career as a stockbroker, following in her father-in-law's profession.
1976: Start of Catering Business
In 1976, Martha Stewart started a catering business in her basement with Norma Collier. The venture became successful but disagreements led to Stewart buying out Collier's share.
1977: Catering The Secret Book of Gnomes Release Party
In 1977, Andrew Stewart released the English-language edition of 'The Secret Book of Gnomes' series. Martha Stewart's company catered the book release party, where she was introduced to Alan Mirken, head of Crown Publishing Group.
1979: Death of Martha Stewart's Father
In 1979, Edward Kostyra, Martha Stewart's father, passed away.
December 13, 1982: Publication of 'Entertaining'
On December 13, 1982, Martha Stewart's first book, Entertaining, ghostwritten by Elizabeth Hawes, was published.
1983: Release of 'Martha Stewart's Quick Cook'
In 1983, Martha Stewart released 'Martha Stewart's Quick Cook' under the Clarkson Potter publishing imprint.
1984: Release of 'Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres'
In 1984, Martha Stewart released 'Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres' under the Clarkson Potter publishing imprint.
1985: Release of 'Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts'
In 1985, Martha Stewart released 'Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts' under the Clarkson Potter publishing imprint.
1987: Separation from Andrew Stewart
In 1987, Andrew and Martha Stewart separated.
1987: Release of 'Weddings'
In 1987, Martha Stewart released 'Weddings' (ghostwritten by Elizabeth Hawes) under the Clarkson Potter publishing imprint.
1988: Releases of Various Books
In 1988, Martha Stewart released 'The Wedding Planner', 'Martha Stewart's Secrets for Entertaining', and 'Martha Stewart's Quick Cook Menus'.
1989: Release of 'Martha Stewart's Christmas'
In 1989, Martha Stewart released 'Martha Stewart's Christmas' under the Clarkson Potter publishing imprint.
1990: Divorce from Andrew Stewart
In 1990, Martha Stewart and Andrew Stewart divorced.
1990: Development of Martha Stewart Living Magazine
In 1990, Martha Stewart signed with Time Publishing Ventures to develop a new magazine, Martha Stewart Living, for which she would serve as editor-in-chief. The first issue was released in late 1990.
1993: Start of Martha Stewart Living Television Program
In 1993, Martha Stewart began a weekly half-hour television program, also called Martha Stewart Living, based on her magazine.
May 1995: Recognition as 'Definitive American Woman'
In May 1995, New York Magazine declared Martha Stewart "the definitive American woman of our time" on the cover of their issue.
1995: Receives Golden Plate Award
In 1995, Martha Stewart received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
September 1997: Formation of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
In September 1997, Martha Stewart, with Sharon Patrick's assistance, secured funding to purchase and consolidate television, print, and merchandising ventures into a new company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO). That same month, Stewart announced the launch of a companion website and a catalogue business, called Martha by Mail, as well as a direct-to-consumer floral business.
1997: Honored with Edison Achievement Award
In 1997, Martha Stewart was honored with an Edison Achievement Award for her commitment to innovation throughout her career.
1997: Expansion of Martha Stewart Living Television Program
In 1997, the Martha Stewart Living television program expanded to weekdays.
October 19, 1999: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Goes Public
On October 19, 1999, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MSO at US$18 per share, rallying to US$38 by the end of trading, making Stewart a billionaire on paper.
1999: Expansion to Full Hour Show
In 1999, Martha Stewart Living expanded to a full hour show with half-hour episodes on weekends.
December 27, 2001: Sale of ImClone Systems Stock
According to the SEC, on December 27, 2001, Martha Stewart avoided a loss of $45,673 by selling all 3,928 shares of her ImClone Systems stock after receiving nonpublic information from her broker. The stock value fell 16% the following day.
February 2002: Stock Price Decline of MSLO
By February 2002, the stock price of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia had slowly declined to $16 per share.
June 25, 2002: Grilled on The Early Show about ImClone
On June 25, 2002, CBS anchor Jane Clayson grilled Martha Stewart on the air about ImClone during her regular segment on The Early Show. Stewart responded by focusing on her salad.
October 3, 2002: Resignation from the New York Stock Exchange Board
On October 3, 2002, Martha Stewart resigned from her position on the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange, following a deal prosecutors had made with Douglas Faneuil.
2002: Peak Circulation of Martha Stewart Living Magazine
In 2002, Martha Stewart Living magazine reached its peak circulation at more than 2 million copies per issue.
June 4, 2003: Indictment by Grand Jury
On June 4, 2003, Martha Stewart was indicted by a grand jury on nine counts, including charges of obstruction of justice. Following this, she stepped down as CEO and Chairwoman of MSLO.
2003: Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart
In 2003, a television film titled "Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart" was released, portraying Stewart's life story. Cybill Shepherd played Martha Stewart in the film.
January 2004: Trial Begins
In January 2004, Martha Stewart's trial began. Prosecutors presented evidence that Peter Bacanovic had ordered his assistant to inform Stewart that the CEO of ImClone, Samuel D. Waksal, was selling his shares in advance of an FDA ruling.
March 2004: Guilty Verdict in Trial
In March 2004, after a six-week jury trial, Martha Stewart was found guilty of felony charges of conspiracy to obstruct, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and making false statements to federal investigators.
July 2004: Sentencing to Prison and Supervised Release
In July 2004, Martha Stewart was sentenced to serve a five-month term in a federal correctional facility and a two-year period of supervised release, including five months of electronic monitoring.
October 8, 2004: Reports to Prison
On October 8, 2004, Martha Stewart reported to FPC Alderson to begin her prison sentence.
2004: Confinement in Federal Prison Camp
In 2004, Martha Stewart was confined in Federal Prison Camp in Alderson, West Virginia. Her lawyer cited the remoteness making it difficult for her 90-year-old mother to visit.
2004: Dismissal of Derivative Suit
In 2004, a derivative suit brought by Monica Beam, a shareholder of MSLO, against Martha Stewart and other directors and officers of the company, was ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court of Delaware.
2004: End of Martha Stewart Living Television Program
In 2004, the Martha Stewart Living television program ended its run.
March 4, 2005: Release From Prison
On March 4, 2005, Martha Stewart was released from FPC Alderson at 12:30 AM and began a two-year term of supervised release, including home confinement with electronic monitoring.
March 2005: Release from Federal Prison
In March 2005, Martha Stewart was released from federal prison after serving five months for felony charges related to the ImClone stock trading case.
March 2005: Comeback After Prison
In March 2005, following her release from prison, Martha Stewart launched a highly publicized comeback and became involved once again in Martha Stewart Living.
September 2005: Returns to Television
In September 2005, Martha Stewart returned to daytime television with "The Martha Stewart Show" and appeared in "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart", both produced by Mark Burnett.
October 2005: Publishes New Business Book
In October 2005, Martha Stewart released her new book, "The Martha Rules", about starting and managing a new business.
November 2005: Launches Sirius Radio Channel
In November 2005, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) launched a 24-hour satellite radio channel with Sirius, where Stewart hosts a weekly call-in show.
2005: Martha: Behind Bars
In 2005, another television film, "Martha: Behind Bars," was released, focusing on a specific period in Stewart's life. Cybill Shepherd reprised her role as Martha Stewart.
July 2006: Partnership with FLOR, Inc.
In July 2006, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced a multi-year agreement with FLOR, Inc. to manufacture and market a new line of Martha Stewart-branded carpet tiles.
August 2006: Settlement with the SEC
In August 2006, the SEC announced that it had agreed to settle the civil case against Martha Stewart. She agreed to disgorge $58,062 and pay a civil penalty of $137,019. She was also banned for five years from serving as a director, CEO, CFO, or any officer role responsible for financial disclosures of any public company.
October 2006: Publishes Homekeeping Handbook
In October 2006, Martha Stewart's "Homekeeping Handbook", a reference book about looking after a house, was published by Clarkson Potter.
November 16, 2006: Appearance on Ugly Betty
On November 16, 2006, Martha Stewart made a special appearance on the "Ugly Betty" episode "Four Thanksgivings and a Funeral," giving Wilhelmina Slater tips on preparing a turkey.
2006: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Returns to Profitability
In 2006, Martha Stewart's company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, returned to profitability after her comeback campaign.
2006: KB Home houses launched
In early 2006, MSLO launched a line of houses with KB Home inspired by Stewart's homes in New York and Mount Desert Island in Maine, with the first homes completed in Cary, North Carolina.
September 14, 2007: Partnership with E & J Gallo Winery
On September 14, 2007, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced a partnership with E & J Gallo Winery to produce a wine brand with the label Martha Stewart Vintage.
September 2007: Launches Housewares Line for Macy's
In September 2007, Martha Stewart launched an upscale line of housewares for Macy's, featuring over 2,000 items designed exclusively for the store, including bedding, bath, cookware, and dinnerware.
November 16, 2007: Death of Martha Kostyra
On November 16, 2007, Martha Stewart's mother, Martha Kostyra, also known as "Big Martha", died at the age of 93.
2007: Death of Martha Stewart's Mother
In 2007, Martha Stewart's mother, Martha (née Ruszkowski), passed away.
2007: Floor Designs by FLOR Debut
In 2007, the Martha Stewart Floor Designs by FLOR line debuted, featuring designs and a color palette associated with the Martha Stewart brand.
January 2008: Martha Stewart Vintage wine for sale
In January 2008, Martha Stewart Vintage wine went on sale in six cities, priced at $15 per bottle.
February 2008: Breaks up with Charles Simonyi
Around February 2008, Martha Stewart broke up with billionaire Charles Simonyi, after dating on and off for 15 years.
June 2008: Visa Denied to the United Kingdom
In June 2008, the UK Border Agency refused to grant Martha Stewart a visa to enter the United Kingdom because of her criminal conviction. She had planned to speak at the Royal Academy on fashion and leisure industry matters.
July 2008: Craft Items Premiered in Walmart
In July 2008, craft items under the names "Martha Stewart Celebrate" and "Martha Stewart Create", two divisions of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, premiered in Walmart stores.
January 26, 2010: Partnership with Hallmark Channel Announced
On January 26, 2010, the Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced a multi-year strategic partnership.
September 13, 2010: Martha Stewart Show Moves to Hallmark
On September 13, 2010, Martha Stewart's hour-long daytime television series Martha, formerly The Martha Stewart Show, moved to the Hallmark Channel.
2011: Debuts Martha Bakes
In 2011, Martha Stewart debuted a new 30-minute show, Martha Bakes, on the Hallmark Channel.
2011: Rejoining the Board of Directors of MSLO
In 2011, Martha Stewart rejoined the board of directors of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
April 2012: Appears on Law & Order: SVU
In April 2012, Martha Stewart made a foray into acting with a debut on the NBC legal drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing a private school headmistress in the episode entitled "Learning Curve".
May 11, 2012: Final Episode on Hallmark Channel
On May 11, 2012, the final episode of the Martha Stewart Show aired on the Hallmark Channel, concluding its two-season run.
October 2012: Martha Stewart's Cooking School Debuts
In October 2012, Martha Stewart's Cooking School, a new television series based on her eponymous book, debuted on PBS, covering cooking techniques and basics in each 30-minute episode.
2012: Becoming Chairwoman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Again
In 2012, Martha Stewart became chairwoman of her namesake company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, again.
2014: Partners with eBay to Create Online Store
In 2014, Martha Stewart reportedly partnered with eBay to create the American Made Martha Stewart online store, providing a platform for American vendors to grow their brand.
2015: Acquisition of MSLO by Sequential Brands
In 2015, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was acquired by Sequential Brands.
2015: Appearance on Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber
In 2015, Martha Stewart appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber, bonding with Snoop Dogg and sparking an unexpected friendship.
2016: Cameo in Bad Moms
In 2016, Martha Stewart made a cameo appearance in the comedy film "Bad Moms".
2016: Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party Premieres
In the fall of 2016, VH1 premiered a new show featuring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg called Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party, featuring games, recipes, and musical guests.
February 2017: Stars in T-Mobile Super Bowl Commercial
In February 2017, Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart starred together in a Super Bowl commercial for T-Mobile.
May 2018: Considered for Presidential Pardon
In May 2018, Martha Stewart was considered as a candidate for a presidential pardon, but was ultimately not selected and later claimed she would have turned it down.
June 2018: Becomes Recurring Judge on Chopped
In June 2018, Martha Stewart began appearing as a recurring judge on Chopped, a cooking competition on the Food Network.
October 2018: Appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
In October 2018, Martha Stewart appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show alongside Julia Roberts.
2018: Inducted into New Jersey Hall of Fame
In 2018, Martha Stewart was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
February 2019: Joins Canopy Growth as Adviser
In February 2019, Canopy Growth (CGC), a Canadian marijuana company, announced that Martha Stewart would join their company as an adviser.
April 2019: Sale of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to Marquee Brands
In April 2019, Sequential Brands Group agreed to sell Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, including the Emeril brand, to Marquee Brands for $175 million with benchmarked additional payments.
2019: Entering the Cannabis Industry
In 2019, it was reported that Martha Stewart was entering the cannabis industry with her own brand.
July 31, 2020: Martha Knows Best Premieres on HGTV
On July 31, 2020, Martha Knows Best, a gardening show, premiered on HGTV, featuring Stewart providing gardening help to callers and celebrity friends.
September 2020: Launches CBD Gummy Supplements
In September 2020, Martha Stewart launched a line of CBD gummy supplements in association with Canopy Growth.
December 4, 2020: Airs Second Season of Martha Knows Best
The second season of the TV show Martha Knows Best aired from October 28 to December 4, 2020.
2020: Inducted into Licensing International Hall of Fame
In 2020, Martha Stewart was inducted into the Licensing International Hall of Fame.
2020: Discovery of relation with Jimmy Kimmel
In 2020, an appearance by Jimmy Kimmel on the TV show Finding Your Roots revealed that he and Martha Stewart are cousins.
July 1, 2021: Martha Gets Down and Dirty Premieres
On July 1, 2021, Martha Gets Down and Dirty, a continuation of Martha Knows Best, premiered on Discovery+.
June 15, 2022: Snoop Dogg to Appear on Podcast
On June 15, 2022, Martha Stewart shared that Snoop Dogg would be the guest on the first episode of her podcast.
June 2022: Announces Original Podcast
In June 2022, Martha Stewart announced that she would be launching her first original podcast, entitled The Martha Stewart Podcast, in partnership with iHeart Radio.
June 22, 2022: Podcast Debut
On June 22, 2022, The Martha Stewart Podcast debuted, with Snoop Dogg as the first guest.
September 2022: Lawsuit Filed Against CBD Line
In September 2022, Oregon-based CBD producer Wyld filed a lawsuit against Martha Stewart's company for copyright infringement relating to the packaging of her line of CBD gummy supplements.
May 2023: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model
In May 2023, Martha Stewart appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as the cover model; at 81 years old, she is the oldest model to be featured on the cover.
2023: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover
In 2023, at the age of 81, Martha Stewart became the oldest woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue magazine.
2024: Release of Netflix Documentary 'Martha'
In 2024, Martha Stewart was the subject of a Netflix documentary titled Martha directed by R. J. Cutler.
2024: Release of Martha Documentary
In 2024, the documentary film "Martha", directed by R. J. Cutler, was released, focusing on Martha Stewart.
2024: Equivalence of MSLO IPO Share Price in 2024
In 2024, the initial public offering of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, which was set at US$18 per share in 1999, is equivalent to $34 and the stock rallied to equivalent of US$72.
2025: Co-hosts Yes, Chef!
In 2025, Martha Stewart co-hosted the reality cooking competition Yes, Chef! on NBC with José Andrés.
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