Father: Edward Kostyra, pharmaceuticals salesman
Mother: Martha (Ruszkowski) Kostyra, schoolteacher
Marriage: Andrew Stewart (1961-1990, divorced)
Children: Alexis
Education: Barnard College, B.A., 1963
Other Facts
Baby-sat Mickey Mantle’s children.
Was a fashion model for Chanel.
Timeline
1968-1973 – Works as a stockbroker for the firm Monness, Horstman, Williams and Sidel.
1976 – Launches a catering business in Westport, Connecticut.
1982 – Publishes her first book, “Entertaining.”
1987 – Is appointed K-Mart’s lifestyle consultant.
1991 – Time Inc. begins publishing the Martha Stewart Living magazine.
1993 – Syndicated TV show, “Martha Stewart Living,” debuts.
1995 – Begins writing a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Martha by Mail, a direct-mail catalog business, is launched.
1997 – Buys-out Time Inc.’s share of Martha Stewart Enterprises, valued at approximately $53 million. Changes the company’s name to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
December 27, 2001 – Stewart sells almost 4,000 shares of ImClone Systems, headed by her friend Samuel Waksal.
June 6, 2002 – Stewart comes under investigation by the Justice Department and the SEC for her sale of shares of ImClone Systems the day before a company announcement that sent the price of ImClone plummeting.
June 4, 2003 – Is indicted on nine charges, including securities fraud and obstruction of justice, Stewart pleads not guilty. Stewart steps down as chairman and CEO of Martha Stewart Omnimedia, but remains on the board and takes role of chief creative officer.
March 8, 2004 – Viacom announces it is dropping Stewart’s television show, “Martha Stewart Living,” from its CBS and UPN television networks. Revlon announces that Stewart has submitted her resignation from the company’s board of directors.
March 15, 2004 – Resigns as chief creative officer of Martha Stewart Omnimedia.
May 18, 2004 – Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announces that Martha Stewart Living Television will be put on hold for Season 12, the 2004-2005 season.
July 16, 2004 – Is sentenced to five months in prison, five months home confinement after release, two years’ probation, and fined $30,000.
September 15, 2004 – Announces that she will begin her prison sentence before her appeal is completed.
October 8, 2004 – Reports to prison in Alderson, West Virginia.
March 4, 2005 – Is released from prison.
August 31, 2005 – Stewart’s home confinement ends.
September 12, 2005 – Stewart’s daily talk show, “Martha,” debuts.
September 21, 2005 – “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart” debuts on NBC.
August 8, 2006 – Stewart agrees to pay $195,000 to settle an insider trading probe with the SEC. She is barred from serving as chief executive or chief financial officer of any public company for five years.
September 2009 – Stewart announces a new product partnership with The Home Depot, launching in 2010.
January 2010 – The partnership between Stewart and Kmart ends.
March 8, 2011 – Daughter Alexis has a daughter by gestational surrogate.
September 2011 – Rejoins the board of directors of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
December 7, 2011 – J.C. Penney invests $38.5 million for a 16.6% stake in Stewart’s Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and enters a 10-year retail partnership showcasing Stewart’s products.
January 6, 2012 – The Hallmark Channel announces that “The Martha Stewart Show” will air until the end of summer 2012.
January 2012 – Macy’s Inc. sues Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia for breach of contract. Macy’s claims that by reaching a deal with J.C. Penney in 2011, a 2006 agreement that granted Macy’s exclusive rights to sell selected Martha Stewart-branded products was violated.
January 2012 – Launches a new line of home office supplies at Staples.
October 2012 – “Martha Stewart’s Cooking School” premieres on PBS.
November 7, 2016 – VH1 network airs “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party,” where Stewart pairs with rap icon Snoop Dogg to share recipes and host celebrity guests.
July 31, 2020 – “Martha Knows Best” premieres on HGTV.
June 22, 2022 – “The first episode of “The Martha Stewart Podcast” is released.
