If I was worried about the fate of Martha Stewart's flagship magazine, Martha Stewart Living, perhaps my concerns were unfounded. The statement from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE: MSO) could not be more bold, more unfailingly optimistic (like Martha herself): Martha is getting a raise.It's a big one, from her current CEO salary of $900,000 a year to at least $2 million annually for the next three years, plus a hefty "retention incentive" of $3 million today.
But where was she going? you might ask. After all, the company is her very self, media-opolied. As far as I can tell, she was going nowhere, but without her there is little left. Martha's aspirational persona has made an indelible mark on our culture, one that has no danger of falling victim to our economic downturn. She represents the soul of the DIY ethos; not for nothing do people say of any well-executed craft, especially one involving vintage pieces found at a thrift store, "that's so Martha!"
She won't need the money for the expenses that come with celebrity, since the company will still make sure she has drivers, automobiles and security. So the Martha Stewart housing boom -- she owns several homes and has consulted on housing developments modeled after them -- is still going strong, despite the economy.
Tax Reform in This Election Year: It's Not Likely
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-16-2009 @ 2:13PM
GLENN said...
I ENJOYED HER SHOW BEFORE THE STOCK SWINDLE...SINCE THEN I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RESPECT FOR HER AND I CANNOT EVEN STAND TO HEAR HER VOICE.......DAMN WOMEN....HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED ..........YOU ARE A SELF CENTERED IGOTIST....SHAME ON YOU
4-16-2009 @ 2:34PM
sandra lathrrop said...
if she was a man she would not have gone to prison in the first place..............
look what all the fat cats are getting for a bonus for doing there job.............
the one that took a plane home on weekends to ca. if he wants a fat cat job in michigan where they make the cars , then he should live in michigan and he wont need all the perks , such as flying home on weekend .
they are all ripping us off , they are all no good americans, and they all should lose there jobs...............
4-16-2009 @ 3:18PM
Pinus1 said...
I am so happy for her. Perhaps she will give a dollar to some orgs that really save our children in this country. Out of several that I have researched focusas.com ranks highly. Good going Martha, you can't keep a hard worker down.
4-16-2009 @ 4:10PM
mullenalexandra said...
I was an avid follower of hers in the beginning. Now it all about ME..ME..ME and pushing her products . Her show has now become an hour long advertisement for HER stuff. Who cares what she did on the weekend. She lives a life most of us can not relate to.
4-16-2009 @ 4:44PM
Dori said...
Why oh why didn't I buy $100,000.00 of her stock on March 9? I would have more than doubled my money! Seriously, she's a hard worker and I wish her well.
4-16-2009 @ 4:59PM
Jeanne said...
SHE DID HER TIME! SOME OF THE FAT CAT CHEATS WHO ARE BEING BAILED OUT WILL NEVER SEE THE INSIDE OF A PRISON. SO, IF SHE CAN COME OUT AND FACE THE WORLD FOR WHAT SHE DID, DID HER TIME, SO LET HER LIVE HER LIFE NOW. WHAT I HEARD OF HER IN PRISON, IS THAT SHE HELPED MANY WOMEN THERE. SO PLEASE GIVE HER A BREAK, STOP LIVING IN YOUR GLASS HOUSES BECAUSE SOMEHOW WE ARE NOT ALL LILY WHITE EITHER. :)YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS RIGHT??PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT EVER THROW STONES
4-17-2009 @ 4:31PM
ttt said...
I spent 2 mos. working on a project at her home in NY...If her fans ever saw the real martha they would hate her too....what a control freak bitch she is
4-16-2009 @ 7:22PM
chucksta25 said...
only in white america...wow..
4-16-2009 @ 7:26PM
chucksta25 said...
and most of you want to impeach the president because he filed taxes on the $2.7 mill he and his wife made.
4-17-2009 @ 12:37PM
gsan201 said...
you peope are so ful of shitttt.If Marhta were a guy you would be calling for her lynching.You are as bad as Obama trying torile the people up against the AIG guys(saying HE the Almighty Obamaisthe only thing between themand PITCHFORKS???WTF are we condoning the Salem Witch Trials? Anyone that isn't in the inner circle of the Administration is to be put to death while his buddies in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are given a PASS because they gave more to him then AIG guys did.Fannie mae and Freddie Mac are the main culprits behind the housing collapse you dumba$$es.It was their Policies and the far left to push the loans to subprime borrowers because to not do so would be Discrimination.You and he want a Double Standard for the evil because he is one of them. I am disgusted by you holier then thou extremists that are destroying America with you and Obama's class warfare. Go after all the movie stars and fottball and baseball players also or STFU and stop being BIGOTS. We pay a fortune in taxes to build NEW stadiums for Sports Teams because they are so por they can not do it themselves while they pay the Players $20 $30 or more Millions per year.That affects everything but Because you like them you have no problem with it.The MEDIA has pushed only certain groups as the bad guys and shielded their Friends and others that are like minded as they are.I also think the salaries are crazy,but if you ony pick and choose which ones you get outraged about then you too are a Bigot and racist like Obama. Do you even blink an eye at the Billions Oprah makes?Do you realize that money gets passed on by higher costs to all other industries that have any association to her empire? Nah you don't care about her because she s a woman and she is PART of the Elitist Liberal Media. Disgusting hypocrites. Really disgusting.
4-16-2009 @ 7:56PM
Mr. Randel Erlandson said...
I look at this sick woman, with nobody to really LOVE BUT her Money, WOW does that feel good sucking on dollar bills,
I think not, DAkotajoe,. Loveland, Colo,
4-19-2009 @ 6:58AM
Ronnie said...
ONE SHOULD NEVER QUESTION THE ADVICE OF THE CONVICTED FELON MARTHA STEWART !
4-19-2009 @ 10:35AM
paulster said...
Why is she so happy let's see she make's MILLIONS screwing people without the sex. Unbelievable how people think she's this great person this world is twisted!!!.
4-19-2009 @ 11:11AM
Tracy Riggs said...
Stop buying her products! It's easy to put these rich fat cats out of business! Stop buying their products and watch their empires crumble!
4-19-2009 @ 11:15AM
pdgrovebaskets said...
You know, when you get right down to the nitty-gritty Martha Stewart is a very odd cookie (no pun intended). At times she really irritates the hell out of me. I think the fact that she is one of the biggest hypocrits is what gets me the most. Ever watch her show? Many days she starts out BRAGGING about some fancy "do" she went to the night before and what famous people she met. And telling her audience they need to go here and go there, as if they could ever afford it. She acts like she's at lunch with a bunch of lady friends but yet the people in the audience will NEVER be able to do what she does. But does that stop her from rubbing it in their faces? No. We don't care where she had dinner the night before or who she was with. I honestly don't think the woman realizes how much she does brag. She reminds me of my late grandmother. What's sad about the whole thing is that this sort of behavior comes from a poor self-esteem. I think the woman really doesn't have any TRUE friends. I don't think her own daughter even really likes her. Then she'll end the show bragging once again what she will be doing over the weekend. Why is she telling us this? Do we really care? NO! The only reason I sometimes watch the show is for the guest or the ideas which are TOTALLY due to the brillant staff and their hard work, not hers. I think what gets me the most is she is ALWAYS talking on the show about ways to save money as if she has to herself (which we know is bunk) and as if she has to penny-pinch. It's such a joke. And the whole time she keeps talking about how affordable things are and yet I don't think there is a craft project or recipe of hers you can do for under $50 bucks. To her that's cheap. Compare that to Rachael who comes up for dinners you can do for under $10 for a family of 4. THAT'S that difference between the two women. I know there are those who don't like Rachael, mostly professional chefs who don't like the fame she has for not paying the dues so to speak. She can be a little too cutsie, but she IS a normal real person who has struggled. And I'm STILL trying to figure out this obsession Martha has with RAP music of all things. The way she actually fawns and flirts with rap singers on her show is sickening. And I understand she plays this music in her offices. That would literally drive me mad. Seeing the staff she has I can't honestly believe for most of them this is their music of choice. So what's the deal here? I think it's her pathethic attempt to recapture some sort of youth. Most people don't realize she's heading towards that 70 year old mark. I also can't figure out why she's a die-hard Democrat and supports all this crap of the Democratic party. With her income, and now apparently due for a big rise, she'd better think twice about supporting Obama and his big tax increases he wants on the rich, for she CERTAINLY falls into this category. This is what I mean about being such a hypocrit. She stands in front of millions of viewers everyday and does this fake routine as if she has to budget every penny because times are "tight" (just not for her) and then her supposed cost cutting measures STILL cost an arm and a leg. The whole thing is just one big joke and what's crazy is the number of women who fall for it and act like she's this homemaking goddess every day. The gods and goddess are her staff who toil away behind the scenes every day to make this woman look so good and I often wonder if they get the appreciation from her that they deserve. Somehow I have my doubts. Hey, I don't deny anyone in this country the freedom to make millions, just be honest about it, don't be a fake and remember which side your bread is buttered on and who has helped put you there.
4-19-2009 @ 11:22AM
Darryl Ehlers said...
Hi Folks, Martha is of the old school, something America has lost. The old school people with teach you from their wisdom and the old school teachers she had teached her the rules of the Earth. Soil is Godly, it contains life. Envy is a diease, that eats at many.Old school teaches one to pick your self by the boot straps when the world caves in. She has done just that. If she makes investors proud of her come back the company will prosper and she is the wiser of her travels
Thanks Darryl
4-19-2009 @ 12:14PM
Alakatt said...
If you were around Martha's hometown back when all the stock mess was going on, you'd hear most of her neighbors say they jailed Martha because she's a woman, successful, and if she were a man, she'd never have even gone to court. LOTS of people were privy to the same information that got Martha thrown into jail.
As to her 'raise'...I think it's great. This woman has worked hard in her life. Yes...she may be a hard ass, but if she were a man, they'd just call her ambitious and determined. Why is it that if a man succeeds, we think he's wonderful. If a woman succeeds...she's a B*tch? It's time you guys (and some women) get off her back. She's worked for what she has and if you worked that hard, you might not be so envious.
4-19-2009 @ 1:25PM
linda said...
martha.... i am hapy yuo are back. yuo keep things simpel i am a brain injury survivor & yuo say it, show it ina way i get it. i rely am hapy yuo are back. than yuo.
linda
4-19-2009 @ 3:13PM
forgetfulwitch67 said...
I did not watch her show nor did I buy any of her shoddy products before she landed in jail, and I certainly will not buy her products now. The American viewers have lost most of their sense of dignity, by endorsing this woman they are saying that breaking the law and lying is fine, we'll just give you more money. I'll go to Goodwill beforeI buy any of her things
4-23-2009 @ 10:11AM
ImAnNergizrBunny said...
Geez, pdgrovebaskets... do you feel better now? If I were a betting person, I'd bet you don't have any boobs left after getting all that off your chest *LOL*