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Martha Stewart (b. 1941)
The onetime stockbroker started a catering business out of her Westport (Conn.) home in 1976. Stewart went on to expand into retail, publishing, television, and merchandising. Her umbrella company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, was formed in 1996 to be just what its name implied—a way to market her lifestyle brand and products across media.
The five months Stewart spent in prison after being convicted of lying about her sale of ImClone stock may turn out to be just a small stain on her career, one she surely could find the right home remedy to remove.
Key takeaway: Stewart profited by making her name into an attractive lifestyle brand.
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