The Martha Stewart timeline

A chronology of Martha Stewart's life and career.

Martha Stewart merchandise at Kmart.
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AUGUST 3, 1941 Born Martha Helen Kostyra in Jersey City, New Jersey, to the Polish-Americans Edward Kostyra and Martha Ruszowski.

JUNE 1959 Graduates from Nutley High School in Nutley, New Jersey.

JULY 1, 1961 Marries Andy Stewart.

JUNE 1963 Graduates from Barnard College, New York.

SEPTEMBER 27, 1965 Daughter Alexis Stewart born. Martha gives up modelling career to be full-time mother.

1967 Becomes a stockbroker.

1973 Ends career as stockbroker.

1976 Begins catering business.

1982 Publishes first book, Martha Stewart Entertaining, to great success.

1987 Husband Andy leaves Martha to live with her former assistant.

1987 Signs deal with Kmart to develop line of stylish but affordable merchandise.

1990 Divorces Andy.

JULY 1991 First issue of Martha Stewart Living published.

1993 Andy Stewart weds Martha's former assistant.

1993 Martha Stewart Living television show begins.

1997 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) launched.

1999 MSLO goes public on New York Stock Exchange, making Martha a billionaire on paper.

DECEMBER 27, 2001 Sells 3,928 shares of ImClone stock for about US$228,000 (Dh837,444).

JUNE 4, 2003 Indicted on nine counts, including charges of securities fraud and obstruction of justice, over sale of ImClone stock. Announces plans to resign as head of MSLO, but says she will remain chief creative officer of the company.

MARCH 5, 2004 Convicted of lying to federal investigators about sales of ImClone shares.

MARCH 8, 2004 Martha Stewart Living TV show pulled from its CBS and UPN affiliates.

MARCH 15, 2004 Resigns from MSLO board of directors.

MAY 18, 2004 Martha Stewart Living TV show goes into indefinite hiatus.

OCTOBER 8, 2004 Begins five-month prison sentence at Alderson Federal Prison Camp in Alderson, West Virginia.

DECEMBER 2004 Shares of MSLO jump more than 70 per cent since Martha enters prison.

MARCH 2, 2005 Martha Stewart Living, the cancelled TV show, receives three Emmy nominations.

MARCH 4, 2005 Released from prison, but must wear electronic ankle bracelet and is put under house arrest, allowed to leave home only for business-related events.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 Daytime TV talk The Martha Stewart Show (or just Martha) debuts. Martha displays her ankle and says: "I'm unfettered, I am free. No ankle bracelet."

SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 Martha Stewart version of The Apprentice premieres, with daughter Alexis as one of her boardroom consultants. The show does poorly in the ratings.

OCTOBER 2005 Publishes new book, The Martha Rules, on starting and managing a business.

NOVEMBER 2005 Launches weekly call-in show on Sirius satellite radio channel.

2006 Launches line of homes to be built in Cary, North Carolina.

2007 Launches line of homewares for Macy's.

2007 Launches partnership with E&J Gallo Winery to produce Martha Stewart Vintage wine.

2008 Craft items under names Martha Stewart Celebrate and Martha Stewart Create debut in Walmart stores.

JUNE 2008 Denied visa to enter UK because of US conviction.

2010 Announces multiyear strategic television partnership with Hallmark Channel.

SEPTEMBER 2010 MSL magazine debuts in UK, New Zealand and Australia.

JUNE 18-19, 2011 Visits the UAE.

Sources: about.com, foxnews.com, twoop.com