Born in a Polish-American family, Stewart credits her father with instilling in her a drive to succeed.
			She passes the broker's exam and is registered with the New York Stock Exchange.
			Stewart leaves Wall Street. She and her then-husband buy a farm in Connecticut, from where she would launch her catering business.
			Her first book, "Entertaining," is published.
			Stewart signs contract as a consultant and spokeswoman for discount retailer Kmart.
			She makes a deal with Time Warner to launch her magazine, "Martha Stewart Living."
			Her weekly television series, also called "Martha Stewart Living," makes its debut.
			Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia go public on the New York Stock Exchange.
			Stewart sells almost 4,000 shares of ImClone Systems, headed by her friend Samuel Waksal.
			The FDA says it has rejected ImClone's application for its cancer drug Erbitux. The announcement sends ImClone stock sharply lower.
			In the wake of Waksal's arrest, Stewart denies any wrongdoing and says her stock sale was based on a previous agreement with her broker.
			Brokerage firm Merrill Lynch suspends Stewart's broker, Peter Bacanovic, after investigation finds conflicting accounts about whether Stewart's agreement with Bacanovic existed.
			Stewart's company acknowledges that her legal problems are taking a toll as company halves its third-quarter earnings forecast.
			A House committee asks the DOJ to launch an investigation into Stewart's alleged insider trading.
			Stewart steps down from the NYSE board.
		Stewart indicted on charges of obstructing justice and securities fraud related to her sale of ImClone stock. Quits as chairman and CEO of the company she founded but stays on the board, will serve as "chief creative officer."
		Ex-ImClone CEO Waksal sentenced to more than seven years in prison, ordered to pay $4.3 million, for his role in the insider trading scandal.
		Stewart tells CNN anchor Larry King this is her "saddest Christmas ever."
		Douglas Faneuil, a former assistant to Stewart's broker at Merrill Lynch, takes the stand and testifies that his boss ordered him to pass an inside stock tip about ImClone to Stewart.
		Mariana Pasternak, a close friend of Stewart, testifies that Stewart told her shortly after selling ImClone stock that she was aware Waksal was trying to dump his shares.
		Judge Cedarbaum dismisses the securities fraud charge against Stewart, saying prosecutors had failed to present enough evidence on the issue. Charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making false statements remain.
		Jury finds Stewart guilty on all counts. Bacanovic convicted on four of five counts against him. Sentencing set for June 17.
		More than half those surveyed say Stewart should go to jail, a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll finds.
		Stewart resigns as a director and chief creative officer of the company she founded but will retain a role as 'founding editorial director.'
		A prosecution witness -- an ink expert from the Secret Service -- is charged with perjury.
		Stewart gets five months in prison -- the minimum the judge could impose under federal sentencing guidelines -- as well as a $30,000 fine, five months of home confinement and two years of supervised probation after her release.
		Martha asks to serve her prison sentence as soon as possible, to start putting her "nightmare" behind her.
		Stewart ordered to report to a prison camp for women in Alderson, W. Va., despite her requests to serve her sentence in Connecticut, near her home and her mother, or in Florida.
		Stewart reports to the minimum-security prison at Alderson, known as 'Camp Cupcake,' to start serving her five-month sentence.
		NBC announces it will broadcast an additional version of the hit reality show "The Apprentice" featuring Martha Stewart as host.
		Martha Stewart released from prison.
Sources: CNN/Money, CNN.com and Reuters Credits: Courtroom sketches by Christine Cornell