Martha Stewart has generated an enormous following by establishing herself as the leading authority for all things domestic and in the process created a multimillion-dollar enterprise and a personal net worth of nearly $2 billion. As one of the most successful self-made female business owners in American history, Martha Stewart is a topic of interest for fans, business professionals and would-be entrepreneurs alike. Martha Inc. tells the compelling story of how this complex woman created an empire on domesticity and examines her business inside and out. Through an engaging narrative by popular columnist Christopher Byron, this book chronicles how the business was built, what it took to take it public, and the personal and professional transformation Martha has undergone to make it all work. To get a true portrait of the woman whose work ethic is her personal life, Byron delves into the underreported facets of Martha's past, such as the effects her challenging childhood and years on Wall Street have had on her uncompromising business acumen. From Martha Stewart Living magazine and marthastewart.com to a K-Mart line of houseware products, a line of house paints, and a television show, this book details how a former caterer from Connecticut has created a media and merchandising empire, pulling off what large media corporations with vast resources struggle to accomplish. Martha Stewart has sold America on good taste and now readers can learn exactly how she did it and what drives her to keep conquering new vistas. A corporate biography as well as a success story worthy of Horatio Alger, Martha Inc. also delves into how a cult of personality is created and how Martha Stewart capitalized on the zeitgeist that characterized the last half of the twentieth century. This book is a must read for anyone who has been touched by Martha's marketing savvy or who dreams of making it big. The New York Times Bestseller "Byron gets all the way to the heart of Martha Stewart." — David McClintick, author, Indecent Exposure Love her or hate her, the story of Martha Stewart and the history of her company are incredible. From the suburban kitchens of Connecticut to the boardrooms of Wall Street, her story is filled with power, drama, conflict, and tragedy. In this updated, new paperback, business writer and columnist Christopher Byron details the most recent events involving Martha Stewart. He gives you the inside story of Martha’s most horrible year, with headlines of possible insider trading and obstruction of justice, accompanied by the roller-coaster plunge in her company’s stock, and the deepening uncertainties regarding the future of her relationship with Kmart. Out of an imagined bliss, Martha created a billion dollar media and merchandising empire devoted to the celebration of home, food, and family. Martha Inc. reveals how it all began, and then developed–and how it could all end. "Enough dish to feed Martha Stewart lovers and loathers alike in this scrupulously reported bio." –People magazine "Jaw-dropping tales of excess and success." –New York Times "Christopher Byron has redefined the Martha Moment." –USA Today ***A BusinessWeek Top Ten Business Book of the Year*** CHRISTOPHER BYRON has been writing about business and finance for over thirty years. He writes a weekly column for the New York Post and a monthly column for Red Herring, is the host of a syndicated daily radio show, "Wall Street Wakeup with Chris Byron," and appears frequently on CNBC, Fox News Network, MSNBC, and CBS Evening News, among other places. Byron graduated from Yale College and the Columbia University School of Law. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and lives in Connecticut with his family.