[Image Temporarily Omitted]
"Martha Stewart" (born August 3, 1941) is a popular American television and magazine personality known for her cooking, gardening, etiquette, and arts and crafts projects, and as a general lifestyle guide and homemaker.
Early life
Born "Martha Helen Kostyra" in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Polish-American parents, she grew up in Nutley, New Jersey, with four brothers and sisters.A good student, she received a partial scholarship to Barnard College in New York City, where she worked part time as a model to help pay her expenses.She initially intended to major in chemistry but switched to art, European history, and architectural history.After graduation, she pursued her budding modeling career and starred in several television commercials. She stopped modelling in 1965 when she had a daughter, Alexis, with husband Andrew Stewart, a law student she met in college.Martha and Andrew divorced in 1990, with her book on Weddings coming out on the same day he filed for divorce.
After modelling, she began pursuing her second career as a stock broker.She continued in this profession until 1973 when recession hit Wall Street.She and her husband then moved to Westport, Connecticut and began restoration of an 1805 farmhouse which is occasionally seen in her television programs (though she uses a stage environment for many shots) and where she still lives today.In later years, she began a successful catering business out of her home and began writing columns and articles on topics such as cooking, gardening, and home furnishing.
Rise to fame
Stewart rose to national prominence with regular appearances on NBC's ''The Today Show''.She became a spokesperson for Kmart in 1987 and launched her first of nine exclusive product lines in 1997. During the 1980s, she was a contributing editor to ''Family Circle'' magazine, and in 1990, she started her own magazine, ''Martha Stewart Living''.In 1993, she began hosting a half-hour syndicated television show by the same name. She soon introduced her own line of home products under the name "The Martha Stewart Everyday Collection."She also hosts a cooking show on the Food Network called ''From Martha's Kitchen'' and a gardening show on Home and Garden TV called ''From Martha's Garden''.She also founded a website,
MarthaStewart.com, to promote her products.
In 1999, she founded the company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia traded on the New York Stock Exchange to combine and control all her enterprises under one corporate entity.She became its chief executive officer and chairman until 2003.Stewart owns approximately 61% of the equity of the company and 94% of the voting power.
As she rose in stature, Stewart became an easy target for mockery and parody on late-night talk shows and ''Saturday Night Live''.Comedians mocked her persona of perfection and her intense attention to the esoteric details of such typically uninteresting topics as ambrosia salad or leaf decorating ideas for tablecloths.She is often the subject of ridicule from late night comedians such as Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, and Jimmy Kimmel.
Today, Stewart owns upscale homes in Westport, Connecticut; Seal Harbor, Maine; and The Hamptons, New York.
Federal indictments and trial
In 2002, Stewart was under investigation for alleged insider trading for selling 3,928 shares of ImClone Systems on December 27, 2001.On December 28, the Food and Drug Administration announced it would not review ImClone's application for Erbitux, which the company touted as a promising cancer drug.ImClone's stock plunged over 70% in the month after the news came out.Stewart has been a friend of ImClone founder Samuel Waksal, who has since pleaded guilty to six counts of wrongdoing related to insider trading before the announcement.On June 6, 2002, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, which was already investigating dubious ImClone trading, announced that it was probing Stewart's stock sale.On October 3, 2002, Stewart resigned from the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange.Through all the investigation and allegation, Stewart kept her public persona intact, focusing on her homemaking specialties and downplaying or ignoring the increasing clamor for answers about her role in the scandal.
On June 4, 2003, a federal grand jury in Manhattan indicted Stewart and her former broker Peter Bacanovic on nine criminal counts from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).By selling when she did, the government alleged Stewart avoided losses of $45,673.The charges included securities fraud, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy.Stewart was not indicted on the original charge of insider trading, but only for the coverup that ensued. Stewart maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty, saying she had a standing order with Bacanovic to sell her shares if ImClone stock fell below $60.Stewart resigned as CEO and chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia on the same day she was indicted, but remained on the company's board.
The day after her indictment, Stewart took out a full-page advertisement in ''USA Today'' and launched a website with an open letter of defense "to my friends and loyal supporters."She said, "I want you to know that I am innocent - and that I will fight to clear my name... The government's attempt to criminalize these actions makes no sense to me... I am confident I will be exonerated of these baseless charges."
The SEC later filed a related civil suit against Stewart with charges of insider trading.Stewart's trial was initially set for January 12, 2004, at the request of her lawyers who said they needed plenty of time to analyze the evidence. The trial eventually began on January 20 In New York City presided over by U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum.During the trial, Stewart maintained her innocence.
On February 27, 2004, Judge Cederbaum threw out the charge of securities fraud against Stewart. This was the most serious charge; it could have led to up to 10 years in prison with a million dollar fine. The judge called the charge "unfounded" and said that "no jury could feasibly find it to be accurate."
On March 5, 2004, Stewart was found guilty by a jury of eight women and four men on all four remaining counts against her: conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and two counts of making false statements.
money.cnn.com/2004/03/05/news/companies/martha_verdict/index.htm The maximum sentence for these convictions combined is 20 years in prison, though it is unlikely she will serve the maximum.The jury deliberated for three days following the five-week trial before reaching its verdict. Sentencing was set for June 17.Following Stewart's conviction, a message was posted on her website, reading, in part, "I am obviously distressed by the jury's verdict but I continue to take comfort in knowing that I have the confidence and enduring support of my family and friends. I will appeal the verdict and continue to fight to clear my name. I believe in the fairness of the judicial system and remain confident that I will ultimately prevail."
Fallout after conviction
On March 8, 2004, Viacom pulled ''Martha Stewart Living'' from its CBS and UPN affiliates, after having moved the show during Stewart's trial from prime daytime timeslots into less desirable early-morning slots (e.g., 2:05am in New York).
www.detnews.com/2004/entertainment/0403/09/f03-85522.htm On March 15, Martha Stewart resigned from the board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia as a result of the conviction.On May 18, MSO announced that the television show that had started the company, ''Martha Stewart Living'', was going on hiatus, with no announced date of return.
In an unrelated matter, Stewart faced more legal trouble in February 2004 as her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, was sued by Kmart for allegedly "double-counting" royalty payments and advertising spending.The companies signed a seven-year deal in 2001 to market Martha Stewart Everyday brand home decorating, garden products, and housewares through Kmart stores.Kmart filed for bankruptcy protection seven months later and has since closed 600 of its 2,100 stores. On April 26, 2004, Kmart withdrew its lawsuit, having reached an agreement with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to amend the terms of the June 2001 contract and to extend it through 2009.
On May 21, 2004, Larry Stewart, a Secret Service employee who testified for the government against Martha Stewart, was charged with two counts of perjury. He was an expert witness about the ink on a broker's worksheet, testifying that the note about selling Imclone shares when it dropped below $60 was different from the rest of the ink on the document. It is unknown at this time how this will affect Martha Stewart's conviction, but stock in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia jumped as much as 23% on the news. On July 8, however, a motion for a new trial was denied, and sentencing was set for the next week.
Sentencing
On July 16, 2004, 10:39 AM, Martha Stewart and Peter Bacanovic were sentenced to five months in prison, five months of home confinement, and two years probation, for lying about a stock sale, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Stewart has to pay a $30,000 fine, while Bacanovic must pay $4,000. The judge stayed the sentence (meaning they do not go to prison yet) while they prepared their appeals.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5444565
External links
*
MarthaStewart.com
*
MarthaTalks.com - An Open Letter from Martha Stewart
*
Biography on Martha Stewart
*
Text of SEC Complaint Against Stewart, Broker
*
Grand Jury Indicts Martha Stewart - ''Washington Post'', June 4, 2003
*
Martha Stewart Guilty of All Counts - Associated Press, March 5, 2004
*
Humourous "Free Martha" site
*
SaveMartha.com - Fan site run by supporters of Martha Stewart
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License, which means that you can
copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
See
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html
for details. It uses material from the Wikipedia article
Martha Stewart.
Martha Stewart in the News
1. MSNBC - Corporate Scandals Front Page - - www.msnbc.msn.com
                    Web Search         Search MSNBC Advertisement advertisement  • Gregory Bull AP • • • MORE CORPORATE SCANDAL NEWS • • • • • • • • Morningstar Inc is under 2. martha stewart Living Renews Contract - 23 Sep 04 - ABC News
martha stewart Living Renews Contract 3. stewart gets new five-year deal - 24/09/2004 - BBC News
martha stewart, the lifestyle guru convicted of lying about a share sale, signs a new five-year contract with the firm that bears her name. 4. September 2004 - - www.thestreet.com
QUOTES & SEARCH Quotes Search Site MY STOCKWATCH Select your StockWatch HOT NEWS The second half of 2004 is going to be great for the bulls Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Corrections and Clarifications September 2004 By 9 23 5. Defense Slams stewart Trial Perjury Case - 23 Sep 04 - ABC News
Defense Slams stewart Trial Perjury Case 6. stewart wishes to serve term now - 15/09/2004 - BBC News
martha stewart, the lifestyle guru convicted of lying about the sale of shares she owned, wants to begin her five month jail sentence as soon as possible. 7. Jail may be easy as pie for martha - - The Seattle Times
seattletimes com Local News Sunday September 26 2004 12 00 A M Nicole Brodeur Times staff columnist Jail may be easy as pie for martha According to the online calendar sent out to her devotees martha stewart should have spent last week dolling 8. martha stewart Living Shares Rise on Report of Talks With 'Survivor' Producer ... - 23 Sep 04 - ABC News
- martha stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. stock soared Thursday after the company confirmed a much-anticipated collaboration with reality-show ... 9. Earnings fall at martha stewart - 03/08/2004 - BBC News
The convicted lifestyle guru's firm reports losses as an advertising slump cuts into its performance. 10. KMART GOES URBAN, CHANGES DIVAS - - www.nypost.com
< tr Search Archives KMART GOES URBAN CHANGES DIVAS By LAURA PETRECCA September 26 2004 martha stewart better watch her back As Kmart embraces all things young and cool the 63-year-old domestic guru could become a Blue-Light Special Kmart is
Martha Stewart on the Web
1. martha stewart Living
official site. Offers how-to advice and products for cooking and entertaining, home and garden, crafts, holidays, weddings, and children.
http://www.marthastewart.com/ Yahoo,
MSN,
Google,
Alltheweb,
Open Directory2. Amazon.com: Magazine Subscriptions: martha stewart Living [MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION]
... Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. Publisher: martha stewart Living. ASIN: B00005NIOA ... I love the martha stewart Living magazine. I did not receive my ...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005NIOA Yahoo,
MSN,
Alltheweb3. eye - martha stewart disease - 05.11.95
dinner. DEFINITE SYMPTOMS OF martha stewart DISEASE. You polish ...
http://www.eye.net/News/Necro/1995/nec0511.htm Google,
Yahoo,
Alltheweb4. Save martha: For martha stewart Fans
Save martha! The Website dedicated to helping save martha from the current media onslaught. ... Join other martha stewart fans at a local meetup in your area to discuss ways to support martha ... missing their daily fix of martha stewart Living. Meanwhile, marthaTalks has been ...
http://www.savemartha.com/ Alltheweb,
Yahoo,
MSN5. BBC NEWS : Business : martha stewart guilty of lying
The US lifestyle guru is found guilty of all charges over a suspicious sale of shares in drug company ImClone. ... martha stewart guilty of lying. stewart must wait months before hearing her sentence. US lifestyle guru martha stewart has been found guilty of lying to investigators over a ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3537831.stm Alltheweb,
Yahoo,
MSN6. Ultimate martha stewart Collection
martha stewart parody with wild Jell-O party, Odditorium, martha's uke solo, stewart's tribute to Star Trek. Includes humor recipes, diets, tips, holiday jokes, photos, links, more. ... Ultimate martha stewart Collection. HERE ... martha Does Lunch. martha stewart. Headline News ...
http://members.tripod.com/~MrsMegaByte Yahoo,
MSN,
Alltheweb7. stewart found guilty on all counts in obstruction trial - Mar. 5, 2004
A jury found martha stewart guilty Friday on all four counts of obstructing justice and lying to investigators about a well-timed stock sale, and the former stockbroker turned style-setter could face years in jail. ... NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - A jury found martha stewart guilty Friday on all four counts of ... stewart quit as chairman and CEO of martha stewart Living after she was indicted ...
http://www.money.com/2004/03/05/news/companies/martha_verdict Yahoo,
MSN,
Alltheweb8. martha stewart - martha stewart Living
Special collection of Web sites and articles about martha stewart and her version of the good life. Find out more about martha stewart Living. ... The Decline and Fall of martha's Empire. martha stewart has built an impressive empire ... martha's Indictment. martha stewart has been charged with obstruction of justice and lying to ...
http://talkshows.about.com/cs/marthastewart Alltheweb,
Yahoo,
MSN9. Amazon.com: Books: The Best of martha stewart Living Weddings (Best of martha stewart Living) ...
... So You'd Like to... martha stewart: A guide by sidonie-flower, an admirer, one who appreciates ... of the perfection of the martha stewart empire. Her motto is "everything ...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609604260 Yahoo,
MSN,
Alltheweb10. MSNBC - Tough road ahead for martha, lawyers say
... NEW YORK - martha stewart will have a tough time convincing an appeals court to throw out her convictions, raising the ... • martha stewart broker agrees to work ban ...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4429271 MSN,
Alltheweb,
Yahoo11. CBS News : martha Won't Get New Trial : May 5, 2004 13:25:01
... NEW YORK, May 5, 2004. martha stewart (Photo: AP) ... Who's who in the ImClone scandal, and how did domestic diva martha stewart land in hot water? ...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/02/national/main597213.shtml Yahoo,
MSN,
Alltheweb12. An Open Letter from martha stewart
features personal statements from martha stewart concerning her indictment and trial.
http://www.marthatalks.com/ Yahoo,
MSN,
Alltheweb13. Gothic martha stewart
do-it-yourself home decor for the morbidly inclined.
http://www.toreadors.com/martha Yahoo,
MSN,
Alltheweb14. martha stewart's Gallactic Tribute to Star Trek
martha stewart's galactic tribute to Star Trek: martha stewart joins Enterprise crew, becomes Borg queen, discovers wormhole, and tries to conquer Delta quadrant. ... But, it's a little-known fact that martha stewart and I were involved often during my five-year ... I first met 'Dr.Marthus' aka martha stewart in the early 2260's ...
http://members.tripod.com/~MrsMegaByte/startrek.html Yahoo,
Alltheweb15. CNN.com - martha stewart found guilty on all counts - Mar 6, 2004
A�jury found martha stewart guilty on all four counts she faced in her obstruction of justice trial Friday. ... could face up to 20 years in prison. martha stewart leaves court Friday after hearing the verdict. ... Toobin thinks it is likely martha stewart will go to prison. ...
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/03/05/stewart.main Yahoo,
Alltheweb16. martha stewart: A Who2 Profile
... Once an expert on "gracious living," martha stewart was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice ... company public in 1999, with martha stewart Living Omnimedia listed on the ...
http://www.who2.com/marthastewart.html Alltheweb,
Yahoo17. ABCNEWS.com : martha stewart Pleads Not Guilty, Resigns
martha stewart has pleaded not guilty to nine criminal counts, including insider trading. The Securities and Exchange Commission also filed a civil suit against stewart. ... martha stewart braves the rain and a phalanx of reporters as she arrives at federal court in New ... O R K, June 4 — martha stewart and her former stockbroker pleaded ...
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/US/marthastewart_030604.html Yahoo,
Alltheweb18. Destination: Madcap martha stewart
Sitemap to: Deranged Party Parody With Guest of Horror- martha stewart. Click on the images of martha stewart or choose a destination from the descriptive links to the zaniest martha parody site on the web! ... Destination: Madcap martha stewart. Click on an image to visit the page where it is featured ...
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Boulevard/8005/sitemapp.html Yahoo,
Alltheweb19. My Way News
... martha stewart Convicted of All Counts. NEW YORK (AP) - martha stewart was convicted Friday of obstructing justice and lying to the government about a superbly ...
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040305/D814E72O0.html Yahoo,
Alltheweb20. martha stewart - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
martha stewart. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. martha stewart. Contents. Early life. After modelling, she began pursuing her second career as a stock broker. She continued in this profession until 1973 when recession hit Wall Street.
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/martha_stewart Yahoo,
Alltheweb
