History of Martha Stewart in Timeline

Martha Stewart is an American businesswoman, writer, and television personality best known as the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Her empire encompasses publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and e-commerce. She achieved widespread success through her books, Martha Stewart Living magazine, and television programs like Martha Stewart Living and The Martha Stewart Show. Though her career experienced a setback due to a conviction, Stewart rebuilt her brand and continues to be a prominent figure in the world of home and hospitality.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1912: Birth of Martha Stewart's Father

In 1912, Edward Kostyra, Martha Stewart's father, was born. He later worked as a pharmaceutical salesman and lived until 1979.

1914: Birth of Martha Stewart's Mother

In 1914, Martha (née Ruszkowski), Martha Stewart's mother, was born. She lived until 2007.

August 3, 1941: Martha Stewart's Birth

On August 3, 1941, Martha Helen Stewart (née Kostyra) was born. She later became a retail businesswoman, 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 finished his law degree at Yale Law School. This marriage marked a significant relationship in her life.

1967: Second Career as a Stockbroker

In 1967, Martha Stewart began a second career as a stockbroker, following her father-in-law's profession. This marked a shift in her professional life.

1976: Start of Catering Business

In 1976, Martha Stewart started a catering business in her basement with Norma Collier. This marked the beginning of her entrepreneurial ventures in the food industry.

1977: Catering The Secret Book of Gnomes Release Party

In 1977, Martha Stewart's company catered the book release party for The Secret Book of Gnomes. There, she was introduced to Alan Mirken, who later offered her a cookbook deal.

1979: Death of Martha Stewart's Father

In 1979, Edward Kostyra, Martha Stewart's father, passed away. He was born in 1912.

December 13, 1982: Release of 'Entertaining'

On December 13, 1982, Martha Stewart's first book, Entertaining, was released. The cookbook, ghostwritten by Elizabeth Hawes, featured recipes and photos from parties Stewart hosted.

Martha's Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations

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1983: Release of Martha Stewart's Quick Cook

In 1983, Martha Stewart released Martha Stewart's Quick Cook. This book was one of many she published under the Clarkson Potter imprint.

Martha Stewart's Quick Cook Menus

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1984: Release of Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres

In 1984, Martha Stewart released Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres. This book was among her publications under the Clarkson Potter imprint.

Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook

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1985: Release of Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts

In 1985, Martha Stewart released Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts. This cookbook was part of her series published under the Clarkson Potter imprint.

Martha Stewart's New Pies and Tarts: 150 Recipes for Old-Fashioned and Modern Favorites: A Baking Book

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1987: Separation from Andrew Stewart

In 1987, Andrew and Martha Stewart separated, marking a significant change in their relationship.

1987: Release of Weddings

In 1987, Martha Stewart released Weddings, a book that was ghostwritten by Elizabeth Hawes. It was published under the Clarkson Potter imprint.

Weddings

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1988: Releases of The Wedding Planner, Secrets for Entertaining and Quick Cook Menus

In 1988, Martha Stewart released The Wedding Planner, Martha Stewart's Secrets for Entertaining, and Martha Stewart's Quick Cook Menus. These books were part of her series published under the Clarkson Potter imprint.

Martha Stewart Weddings: Ideas and Inspiration

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1989: Release of Martha Stewart's Christmas

In 1989, Martha Stewart released Martha Stewart's Christmas. This book was one of her publications under the Clarkson Potter publishing imprint.

Martha Stewart's Christmas

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1990: Divorce from Andrew Stewart

In 1990, Martha Stewart and Andrew Stewart divorced, finalizing the end of their marriage.

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 served as editor-in-chief. This marked a significant expansion of her brand into publishing.

1993: Start of Martha Stewart Living TV Program

In 1993, Martha Stewart began a weekly half-hour television program, also called Martha Stewart Living, based on her magazine. This marked her entry into television broadcasting.

May 1995: New York Magazine Cover

In May 1995, New York Magazine declared Martha Stewart "the definitive American woman of our time" on their cover. This recognition highlighted her significant cultural influence.

September 1997: Formation of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

In September 1997, Martha Stewart, with the assistance of Sharon Patrick, secured funding to purchase television, print, and merchandising ventures, consolidating them into Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO). This was a major step in organizing her brand.

1997: Expansion of Martha Stewart Living TV Program

In 1997, the weekly half-hour television program Martha Stewart Living expanded to weekdays. This signified the growing popularity and demand for her television show.

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. The initial public offering was set at US$18 per share.

1999: Expansion to Full Hour TV Show

In 1999, Martha Stewart Living expanded to a full hour show on weekdays, with half-hour episodes on weekends. This expansion reflected the show's continued success and popularity.

December 27, 2001: Sale of ImClone Systems Stock

On December 27, 2001, Martha Stewart sold all 3,928 shares of her ImClone Systems stock. According to the SEC, she avoided a loss of $45,673 by selling the stock after receiving nonpublic information.

February 2002: Stock Price Decline

By February 2002, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's stock price had slowly decreased to $16 per share. She maintained 96% control of voting power in the company.

June 25, 2002: Grilled on The Early Show about ImClone

On June 25, 2002, CBS anchor Jane Clayson questioned Martha Stewart about ImClone during her regular segment on The Early Show. Stewart responded by continuing to chop cabbage and said, "I want to focus on my salad."

October 3, 2002: Resignation from NYSE Board of Directors

On October 3, 2002, Martha Stewart resigned from her position on the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange. This followed a deal prosecutors made with Douglas Faneuil related to the ImClone case.

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, demonstrating the success of the publication.

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. She stepped down as CEO and Chairwoman of MSLO but remained as chief creative officer.

January 2004: Start of Trial

In January 2004, Martha Stewart's trial began. Prosecutors presented evidence that Peter Bacanovic had informed Stewart about ImClone's CEO selling his shares in advance of an adverse 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 including conspiracy to obstruct, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and making false statements to federal investigators.

July 2004: Sentencing for Felony Charges

In July 2004, Martha Stewart was sentenced to a five-month term in a federal correctional facility and a two-year period of supervised release for her felony convictions.

2004: End of Martha Stewart Living TV Program

In 2004, Martha Stewart Living, the television program which began in 1993, ran until its end. She also starred in holiday specials on CBS.

2004: Confinement in Federal Prison Camp

In 2004, Martha Stewart was confined in Federal Prison Camp in Alderson, West Virginia, despite her wish to be incarcerated in Connecticut or Florida. The remoteness of the location was noted as potentially difficult for her then-90-year-old mother to visit.

2004: MSLO Shareholder Derivative Suit

In 2004, Monica Beam, a shareholder of MSLO, brought a derivative suit against Martha Stewart and other directors and officers of the company. The case was ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court of Delaware.

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. She was convicted of fraud.

2005: Start of The Martha Stewart Show

In 2005, Martha Stewart began hosting a syndicated television program called The Martha Stewart Show. This show was another significant venture in her broadcasting career.

August 2006: Settlement with SEC

In August 2006, the SEC announced a settlement in the civil case against Martha Stewart. She agreed to disgorge $58,062 and pay a civil penalty of $137,019, as well as a five-year ban from serving as an officer of any public company.

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 following her prison term.

2007: Death of Martha Stewart's Mother

In 2007, Martha Stewart's mother, Martha (née Ruszkowski), passed away. She was born in 1914.

June 2008: Visa Refusal by UK Border Agency

In June 2008, the UK Border Agency refused to grant Martha Stewart a visa to enter the United Kingdom due to her criminal conviction for obstructing justice. She had planned to speak at the Royal Academy.

2011: Rejoining MSLO Board of Directors

In 2011, Martha Stewart rejoined the board of directors of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. This marked a significant step in her return to leadership within the company.

2012: Becoming Chairwoman of MSLO Again

In 2012, Martha Stewart became chairwoman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia again. This signified her complete return to a leadership position within the company.

2012: End of The Martha Stewart Show

In 2012, The Martha Stewart Show, which had been running since 2005, came to an end. The show was a syndicated television program hosted by Martha Stewart.

2015: Acquisition of MSLO by Sequential Brands

In 2015, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was acquired by Sequential Brands. This acquisition marked a change in ownership for the company.

April 2019: Sale of MSLO 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. The sale represented another shift in the brand's ownership.

2019: Entry into Cannabis Industry

In 2019, it was reported that Martha Stewart was entering the cannabis industry with her own brand. This marked a new venture into a different market sector.

2023: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 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, marking a significant media appearance.