History of Martha Stewart in Timeline
Martha Stewart is an American businesswoman, writer, and television personality. She is the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, a company focused on home and hospitality. Stewart achieved success through publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and e-commerce. She is the author of several bestselling books, was the publisher of Martha Stewart Living magazine, and hosted the TV shows Martha Stewart Living (1993-2004) and The Martha Stewart Show (2005-2012).
1922: Skylands Gardens Design
In 1922, Jens Jensen designed the gardens at Skylands, the former summer estate of Edsel Ford, which Martha Stewart now maintains.
August 3, 1941: Martha Stewart Born
On August 3, 1941, Martha Helen Stewart (née Kostyra) was born. She later became a retail businesswoman, writer, and television personality.
August 3, 1941: Birth of Martha Stewart
On August 3, 1941, Martha Stewart was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.
July 1961: Marriage to Andrew Stewart
In July 1961, Martha Stewart married Andrew Stewart, who was finishing his law degree at Yale Law School.
1961: Marriage to Andrew Stewart
In 1961, Martha Kostyra married Andrew Stewart, who was 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: Second Career as Stockbroker
In 1967, Martha Stewart began a second career as a stockbroker, following her father-in-law's profession.
1976: Started Catering Business
In 1976, Martha Stewart started a catering business in her basement with Norma Collier.
1977: Catered Book Release Party
In 1977, Martha Stewart's company catered the book release party for "The Secret Book of Gnomes", where she met Alan Mirken, who later contacted her to develop a cookbook.
1979: Death of Martha Stewart's Father
In 1979, Martha Stewart's father, Edward Kostyra, passed away.
December 13, 1982: Publication of "Entertaining"
On December 13, 1982, Martha Stewart's first book, "Entertaining", was published. It was ghostwritten by Elizabeth Hawes.
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".
1985: Release of "Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts"
In 1985, Martha Stewart released "Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts".
1987: Separation from Andrew Stewart
In 1987, Andrew and Martha Stewart separated.
1987: Release of "Weddings"
In 1987, Martha Stewart released "Weddings", which was ghostwritten by Elizabeth Hawes.
1988: Releases in 1988
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".
1990: Divorce from Andrew Stewart
In 1990, Martha Stewart and Andrew Stewart divorced.
1990: New Magazine Development
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: Martha Stewart Living TV Program
In 1993, Martha Stewart began hosting a weekly half-hour television program, also called Martha Stewart Living, based on her magazine.
May 1995: New York Magazine Cover
On the cover of their May 1995 issue, New York Magazine declared Martha Stewart "the definitive American woman of our time".
1995: 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 secured funding to purchase her television, print, and merchandising ventures and consolidate them into a new company, named Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO).
1997: Edison Achievement Award
In 1997, Martha Stewart was honored with an Edison Achievement Award for her commitment to innovation throughout her career.
1997: Expansion to Weekdays
In 1997, the Martha Stewart Living television show 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.
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: ImClone Stock Sale
On December 27, 2001, Martha Stewart sold all 3,928 shares of her ImClone Systems stock after receiving nonpublic information, avoiding a loss of $45,673 according to the SEC.
February 2002: Stock Price Decline
By February 2002, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's stock price had decreased to $16 per share after an initial rise.
June 25, 2002: Grilled on The Early Show
On June 25, 2002, CBS anchor Jane Clayson questioned Martha Stewart about ImClone during her regular segment on The Early Show.
October 3, 2002: Resignation from NYSE Board
On October 3, 2002, Martha Stewart resigned from her position on the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange.
2002: Peak Magazine Circulation
In 2002, Martha Stewart Living magazine reached its peak circulation of 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.
2003: Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart
In 2003, Martha Stewart was portrayed by Cybill Shepherd in the television film "Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart".
January 2004: Trial Begins
In January 2004, Martha Stewart's trial began.
March 2004: Guilty Verdict
In March 2004, 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
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.
October 8, 2004: Stewart Reports to Prison
On October 8, 2004, Martha Stewart reported to FPC Alderson to begin serving her prison sentence.
2004: End of "Martha Stewart Living"
In 2004, Martha Stewart Living television show ended its run.
2004: Conviction in ImClone Case
In 2004, Martha Stewart was convicted of felony charges related to the ImClone stock trading case.
2004: Derivative Suit Dismissed
In 2004, a derivative suit brought against Martha Stewart and other MSLO officers was dismissed by the Supreme Court of Delaware.
2004: Incarceration Location
In 2004, despite Stewart's preference, she was incarcerated in Federal Prison Camp in Alderson, West Virginia.
March 4, 2005: Stewart Released From Prison
On March 4, 2005, Martha Stewart was released from FPC Alderson at 12:30 AM and was placed in a two-year term of supervised release, including home confinement.
March 2005: Release from Prison
In March 2005, Martha Stewart was released from federal prison after serving five months.
March 2005: Comeback After Prison Release
In March 2005, following her release from prison, Martha Stewart launched a highly publicized comeback and became involved with Martha Stewart Living once again. Offerings of her company's Martha Stewart Everyday line at Kmart were expanded.
September 2005: Returns to Television
In September 2005, Martha Stewart returned to daytime television with "The Martha Stewart Show" and also appeared in "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart".
October 2005: Release of "The Martha Rules"
In October 2005, Martha Stewart released a new book titled "The Martha Rules", which focused on starting and managing a new business.
November 2005: Sirius Satellite Radio Channel Launch
In November 2005, MSLO launched a 24-hour satellite radio channel with Sirius, where Martha Stewart currently hosts a weekly call-in show.
2005: The Martha Stewart Show
In 2005, Martha Stewart began hosting "The Martha Stewart Show".
2005: Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
In 2005, Martha Stewart introduced a 2005 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon as part of her wine brand Martha Stewart Vintage.
2005: Martha: Behind Bars
In 2005, Martha Stewart was again portrayed by Cybill Shepherd in the television film "Martha: Behind Bars".
July 2006: Agreement 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: SEC Settlement
In August 2006, the SEC announced that it had agreed to settle the related civil case against Martha Stewart, resulting in disgorgement of $58,062 and a civil penalty of $137,019, along with a five-year ban from serving as an officer of any public company.
October 2006: Publication of "Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook"
In October 2006, "Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook", a reference book about home care, 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 cooking tips.
2006: Sonoma County Chardonnay and Merlot
In 2006, Martha Stewart introduced a 2006 Sonoma County Chardonnay and 2006 Sonoma County Merlot as part of her wine brand Martha Stewart Vintage.
2006: Company Returns to Profitability
In 2006, Martha Stewart's company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, returned to profitability after her comeback campaign following her prison term.
2006: Launch of MSLO houses with KB Home
In early 2006, MSLO launched a line of houses with KB Home, with the first homes completed in Cary, North Carolina. These homes were inspired by Stewart's homes in New York and Maine.
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 label Martha Stewart Vintage.
September 2007: Macy's Housewares Line Launch
In September 2007, Martha Stewart launched an upscale line of housewares for Macy's, which was the largest brand launch in Macy's history, including over 2,000 items designed exclusively for Macy's.
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. She had appeared on Martha Stewart Living numerous times.
2007: Space Tourist Footage on TV Show
In 2007, Martha Stewart featured footage of Charles Simonyi, as a space tourist aboard Soyuz, on her television show.
2007: Death of Martha Stewart's Mother
In 2007, Martha Stewart's mother, Martha Ruszkowski Kostyra, passed away.
2007: Debut of Martha Stewart Floor Designs by FLOR line
In 2007, the Martha Stewart Floor Designs by FLOR line debuted.
January 2008: Martha Stewart Vintage Wine Sales
In January 2008, Martha Stewart Vintage wine was for sale in six cities for $15.
February 2008: Breakup with Charles Simonyi
Around February 2008, Martha Stewart and Charles Simonyi broke up after dating on and off for 15 years.
June 2008: UK Visa Refusal
In June 2008, the UK Border Agency refused to grant Martha Stewart a visa to enter the United Kingdom because of her criminal conviction for obstructing justice.
July 2008: Craft Items in Walmart
In July 2008, craft items under the names "Martha Stewart Celebrate" and "Martha Stewart Create" premiered in Walmart stores.
January 26, 2010: Partnership with Hallmark Channel
On January 26, 2010, Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced a multi-year strategic partnership.
September 13, 2010: "Martha" moves to Hallmark Channel
On September 13, 2010, Martha Stewart's hour-long daytime television series "Martha", formerly "The Martha Stewart Show", moved to the Hallmark Channel.
2011: Rejoined Board of Directors
In 2011, Martha Stewart rejoined the board of directors of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
2011: Profitability Issues and "Martha Bakes" Debut
In 2011, New York Magazine reported Martha Stewart Living had only made a profit in one of the previous eight years. That same year, Stewart debuted a new 30-minute show, "Martha Bakes", on the Hallmark Channel.
April 2012: Appearance on Law & Order: SVU
In April 2012, Martha Stewart made a guest appearance on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing a private school headmistress in the episode "Learning Curve".
May 11, 2012: Final Episode on Hallmark Channel
On May 11, 2012, the final episode of Martha Stewart's show aired on the Hallmark Channel, marking the end of its two-season run.
October 2012: Debut of Martha Stewart's Cooking School
In October 2012, Martha Stewart's Cooking School, a new television series based on her book, debuted on PBS, focusing on cooking techniques and basics.
2012: End of "The Martha Stewart Show"
In 2012, "The Martha Stewart Show", which had been running since 2005, ended.
2012: Chairwoman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
In 2012, Martha Stewart became chairwoman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia again.
2014: Partnership with eBay for American Made Martha Stewart Store
In 2014, Martha Stewart partnered with eBay to create the American Made Martha Stewart online store, providing a platform for American vendors.
2015: Acquisition by Sequential Brands
In 2015, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was acquired by Sequential Brands.
2016: Cameo in Bad Moms
In 2016, Martha Stewart made a cameo appearance in the comedy film Bad Moms.
2016: Premiere of Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party
In the fall of 2016, VH1 premiered a new show featuring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg called Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party, which included games, recipes, and musical guests.
February 2017: Super Bowl Commercial with Snoop Dogg
In February 2017, Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg starred together in a Super Bowl commercial for T-Mobile during Super Bowl LI.
May 2018: Possible Presidential Pardon Consideration
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: Recurring Judge on Chopped
In June 2018, Martha Stewart began appearing as a recurring judge on the Food Network's cooking competition, Chopped.
October 2018: Appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
In October 2018, Martha Stewart appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show alongside Julia Roberts.
2018: Induction into New Jersey Hall of Fame
In 2018, Martha Stewart was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
February 2019: Adviser for Canopy Growth
In February 2019, Martha Stewart joined Canopy Growth (CGC), a Canadian marijuana company, as an adviser.
April 2019: Sale 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.
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: Premiere of Martha Knows Best
On July 31, 2020, Martha Knows Best premiered on HGTV, featuring Stewart providing gardening help and demonstrating projects at her estate.
September 2020: Launch of CBD Gummy Supplements
In September 2020, Martha Stewart launched a line of CBD gummy supplements in association with Canopy Growth.
December 4, 2020: Second Season Aired of Martha Knows Best
On December 4, 2020, the second season of Martha Knows Best aired.
2020: Induction into Licensing International Hall of Fame
In 2020, Martha Stewart was inducted into the Licensing International Hall of Fame.
2020: Discovery of Cousin Relationship 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: Premiere of Martha Gets Down and Dirty
On July 1, 2021, Martha Gets Down and Dirty premiered on Discovery+.
June 15, 2022: Snoop Dogg as First Podcast Guest
On June 15, 2022, Martha Stewart shared that Snoop Dogg would be the guest on the first episode of her podcast.
June 2022: Launch of The Martha Stewart 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, and introduced three new shows on The Roku Channel: Martha Gardens, Martha Cooks, and Martha Holidays.
June 22, 2022: Debut of The Martha Stewart Podcast
On June 22, 2022, Martha Stewart's podcast, The Martha Stewart Podcast, debuted.
September 2022: Lawsuit by Wyld Against Canopy Growth
In September 2022, Oregon-based CBD producer Wyld filed a lawsuit against Canopy Growth for copyright infringement relating to the packaging of Martha Stewart's line of CBD products.
May 2023: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover
In May 2023, Martha Stewart appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, becoming the oldest model to feature on the cover at 81 years old.
2023: Sports Illustrated 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.
2023: Equivalent IPO share
In 2023, the IPO shares price equivalent was $33 and rallied to $70.
2024: Netflix Documentary
In 2024, Martha Stewart was the subject of a Netflix documentary titled Martha directed by R.J. Cutler.
2024: Release of Documentary Film "Martha"
The documentary film "Martha" directed by R. J. Cutler is slated for release in 2024, focusing on Martha Stewart's life.
