Martha Helen Kostyra was born on Aug. 3, 1941, in Jersey City, N.J., making her 84 years old today. The woman who turned being a domestic goddess into a billion-dollar enterprise faced federal prison, lost her status as a billionaire, and had to start over. Martha Stewart’s net worth is around $400 million as of December 2025. Not bad for a comeback.
The Early Hustle
Martha started making money young. By age 10, she had begun babysitting for New York Yankees players like Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Gil McDougald. Not only was she watching their kids. She was organizing birthday parties for them. Already up to speed on the business side. In her teen years, she was modeling to put herself through college. “I knew I was good enough to get $60 an hour, which was the going rate at the time,” she told an interviewer years later.
“I wasn’t the cover girl. I wasn’t Suzy Parker. But I should’ve been.” That money from modelling put Barnard College at Columbia University within reach. She got degrees in history and architectural history. She married Andrew Stewart at 19. They later would have a daughter, Alexis. Martha Stewart’s daughter is now 59 and is known as a television host and radio personality. The two have had a complicated relationship over the years.
From Stockbroker to Lifestyle Mogul
Martha worked as a stockbroker after her graduation in 1967. She and Andrew moved to Connecticut, where they bought an 1805 farmhouse called Turkey Hill that they restored. That restoration job was the testing ground for everything Martha would go on to build. And she left the stockbroker world in the mid 1970s to open a catering company out of her basement. That led to her first book, Entertaining, in 1982. It sold like mad. More cookbooks followed, then a magazine. Then a TV show. By 1997, she had created Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia as the home for all her businesses.
The Billion Dollar Moment
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia became a public company on Oct. 19, 1999. The stock began trading at $18 a share. By day’s end, it hit $38. Martha entered the ranks of the richest people, and she became America’s first self-made female billionaire. Her fortune hit a high of $1 billion. For comparison, that placed her in the realm of Oprah, whose current net worth is about $4 billion. Rachael Ray’s net worth is roughly $100 million. Joanna Gaines is worth about $50 million. Ina Garten’s at $60 million. Martha’s built something that’s lasted.
The Fall
In 2001, acting on her broker’s advice, Martha sold almost 4,000 shares of ImClone Systems stock. The decision saved her less than $50,000. That decision cost her everything. She was convicted in March 2004 of several felonies: conspiracy and obstruction of an agency proceeding, and making false statements to federal investigators. In 2004, she spent five months in federal prison and was placed on two years of supervised release.
She paid a $30,000 fine. And something strange happened while she was locked up. Her company’s stock doubled. For the time being, Martha was a billionaire again. But within six months of her release, the stock had fallen 47%. Her fortune fell back to roughly $500 million.
The Comeback
Martha didn’t crumble. She launched The Martha Stewart Show in 2005. It lasted until 2012 and received Emmy nominations. She kept writing books. She kept doing deals. She collaborated with Macy’s and other retailers for product lines. And in 2015, she sold Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to Sequential Brands Group. She continued as a major shareholder. Sequential sold the Martha Stewart assets in 2019 to Marquee Brands for $175 million.
Martha Stewart Snoop Dogg
The partnership between Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg might be the smartest thing she’s done in years. Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party launched in 2016 on VH1. It introduced Martha to an entirely new audience.
Young people who’d never watched daytime lifestyle TV suddenly knew who she was. The friendship’s genuine, too. They banter on social media. They defend each other in interviews. Snoop’s talked about how Martha taught him cooking techniques. Martha’s talked about how Snoop keeps her relevant. It works because it’s real, not manufactured.
Where the Money Comes From Now
Martha’s wealth in 2025 comes from loads of sources. TV appearances. Book royalties. Product licensing deals. Real estate investments. Her property portfolio alone is worth over $100 million. She owns Skylands, a 67-acre estate in Maine that once belonged to Edsel Ford. She’s got Cantitoe Corners, her 152-acre estate in Katonah, New York.
She recently bought a condo at The Belnord on Manhattan’s Upper West Side for $12.3 million. She’s also got a partnership with Canopy Growth Corporation, selling CBD products like gummies and oils. She’s tapped into the wellness market. At 84, she’s still finding new revenue streams.
The Sports Illustrated Moment
In 2023, at 81, Martha appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. The oldest woman ever to do so. The internet lost its mind. That cover probably did more for her brand visibility than any ad campaign could’ve managed. She posts on Instagram regularly, showing off her life, her properties, her food, and her friendships. She’s got over 2.5 million followers watching her every move. That’s influence. That’s staying power.
Martha Stewart Age Doesn’t Slow Her Down
Martha Stewart’s age is 84, but she’s still working. Still creating. Still finding new ways to stay relevant. Whether you like her or not, you’ve got to respect the hustle. Martha Stewart’s net worth of $400 million isn’t just about the money. It’s about what it represents. She went from babysitting Yankees players to building a billion-dollar company. She went to prison and lost most of her fortune. Then she rebuilt it. And honestly? £400 million for teaching Americans how to fold napkins and bake the perfect pie isn’t a bad return on investment.
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