Martha Stewart Enjoys Full Circle Moment Two Decades After Major Fall From Grace
By Fiyin Olowokandi on February 12, 2026 at 2:45 PM EST
Martha Stewart made an iconic return to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) 24 years after her disgraceful exit.
The author joined Mark Scheiwer to ring the closing bell at the NYSE, decades after she was forced to resign from the board amid her insider trading scandal.
In addition to making her return to the NYSE, Stewart has also been open about political matters. She recently spoke up about the ongoing tension between federal troops and citizens, calling for things to change quickly.
Martha Stewart Commemorates Beautiful Moment At NYSE
84-year-old Stewart was photographed on the balcony of the Wall Street building, ringing the closing bell with Miracle-Gro CFO Mark Scheiwer, as the company celebrated its 30th anniversary.
She was also seen signing the guest book alongside NYSE Vice President Chris Taylor, as seen in photos obtained by Daily Mail.
Stewart was not unaware of the significance of the moment. She shared a picture on her Instagram Stories looking back on a photograph Richard Drew took of her when she took her company public in 1999.
“Richard Drew has been photographing companies’ executives for the AP at the New York Stock Exchange for many years,” she wrote.
“I was there today celebrating the 30th anniversary of @scottsmiraclegro, and Richard showed me his photo of me the day I took my company public in 1999,” she added.
The lifestyle guru’s warm reception at the NYSE was a far cry from her unceremonious exit in 2002, when she was accused of being part of an insider trading scandal. She was indicted in 2003 and convicted in 2004 of felony charges.
Although Stewart pleaded innocent to the charges, she was forced to disgracefully exit from the board of the organization.
Martha Stewart Condemned ICE Following Amid Protests In The Country
Barely two weeks before her appearance at the NYSE, Stewart stepped into a sensitive political conversation when she spoke up against federal troops after ICU nurse Alex Pretti was brutally murdered.
She got the nudge to speak up when her 14-year-old granddaughter sent a text to her, urging her to say something.
The businesswoman shared the text on her social media page, writing, “My granddaughter wrote this to me yesterday; she is 14 and sensitive to what is going on in our country as we all should be,” per The Blast.
She noted that she was “disheartened and sad” that people were being stopped from participating in peaceful demonstrations and were being attacked and killed by federal troops.
Stewart further called for things to change “quickly and peacefully.”
Martha Stewart Received Backlash From Fans After Her Book Signing
Stewart’s political statements were met with positive reactions from fans, who commended her for speaking up. However, a few weeks before that, she came under heavy fire from fans when she was accused of being “rude” and “dismissive” toward a fan.
According to The Blast, the lifestyle mogul held a book signing in New York City, during which a fan alleged that her sister waited two hours to see Stewart but ended up being ignored by her.
This sparked a wave of criticism online, with one fan calling her “very rude.”
The Lifestyle Mogul Also Launched A New Brand
Before being brutally dragged by her fans, Stewart announced the launch of her skincare brand, Elm Biosciences.
The 84-year-old marked the moment by sharing pictures of herself and a dermatologist as they introduced the products to the world.
“After 5 years of working behind the scenes, hundreds of prototypes, and endless hours of research—we can’t wait to finally share @elmbiosciences with you all,” she wrote.
The brand’s product line features supplements containing botanical extracts and serums with squalene.
Martha Stewart Was Part Of An American Eagle Campaign
Besides launching her skincare line, Stewart also made other huge moves in her career, as she was featured in a viral American Eagle campaign.
The Blast reported that the author partnered with the brand for its “Give Great Jeans” campaign ahead of the holidays last year.
When promoting the campaign, she reflected on the holidays being a time for "thoughtful giving” and noted how jeans are often universally appreciated.
“American Eagle makes denim that feels exceptional, fits beautifully, and lives up to the demands of everyday life, which is exactly what we all need during the busy holiday season," she said.
Notably, many fans reacted positively to the campaign, with many noting how youthful Stewart appeared in the photographs.
