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The Five Secrets Martha Stewart Revealed About Her Marriage Infidelity And Painful Divorce

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As of today, December 23, 2025, the world of celebrity and lifestyle is buzzing with the candid revelations from one of its most private and powerful figures: Martha Stewart. The businesswoman, who built an empire on the image of domestic perfection and impeccable taste, is finally pulling back the curtain on the messy, complicated reality of her 29-year marriage to Andrew Stewart, confessing to her own act of infidelity. This shocking admission is the centerpiece of the trailer for her upcoming Netflix documentary, titled *Martha*, a film promising to deliver an unprecedented, unfiltered look at the lifestyle guru’s life. The confession is particularly significant because for decades, the narrative surrounding their 1990 divorce was centered on Andrew Stewart's alleged affairs. Martha's new openness reveals a far more complex and mutually fractured relationship, one where secrets and extramarital relationships were present on both sides. The documentary is set to redefine the public's understanding of one of the most high-profile divorces in American business and media history.

Martha Stewart: A Life and Career Profile

Martha Stewart, born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941, in Jersey City, New Jersey, is the quintessential American success story, rising from humble beginnings to become a global icon.

  • Full Name: Martha Helen Kostyra (later Stewart)
  • Born: August 3, 1941, in Jersey City, New Jersey
  • Parents: Edward Kostyra and Martha Ruszkowski Kostyra (Polish-American heritage)
  • Education: Barnard College (B.A. in European History and Architectural History)
  • Early Career: Began a career as a model at age 15, later became a successful stockbroker on Wall Street.
  • Marital Status: Married Andrew "Andy" Stewart (1961–1990); Divorced.
  • Child: Daughter Alexis Gilbert Stewart (born 1965), a TV and radio host.
  • Business Empire: Founded a catering business in the late 1970s, which grew into the multimedia and merchandising conglomerate Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO).
  • Key Titles: Author, magazine publisher, television host, businesswoman, and lifestyle expert.
  • Later Relationships: Dated Mort Zuckerman, actor Anthony Hopkins, and billionaire software developer Charles Simonyi (the "father of Excel").

The Shocking Confession: Infidelity on Both Sides

For nearly three decades, the public perception of the Stewart divorce was that Andrew Stewart, a publisher, was the sole party responsible for the marriage's demise due to his infidelity. The new Netflix documentary, however, paints a picture of a marriage strained by mutual extramarital affairs, an admission Martha Stewart makes with a surprising level of nonchalance and candor.

1. Martha’s Affair Happened "Early On"

The self-made billionaire admitted that she, too, had an affair during her marriage to Andrew. She described her infidelity as occurring "early on" in the decades-long union, which began in 1961. This revelation shifts the narrative from a simple victim-and-villain story to a more nuanced account of two people who grew apart while building a life and a burgeoning business empire together.

2. The "Very Handsome Guy" Kiss

Providing a rare glimpse into the emotional side of her transgression, Martha recalled one specific moment of her affair, mentioning sharing a kiss with a "very handsome guy." This detail, while brief, humanizes the typically stoic and composed public figure, suggesting that the pressures of her ambitious career and early marriage may have led her to seek connection elsewhere.

3. Andrew Stewart’s Affairs Were Multiple and Public

While Martha's confession is the headline-grabbing shock, the documentary also confirms the long-rumored infidelity of Andrew Stewart. The film details that Andrew, who has a master's in law from Columbia University and was a publisher, had multiple affairs. The repeated nature of his extramarital relationships added significant strain to the marriage.

4. The Affair "Right on Our Property"

Perhaps the most painful detail shared by Martha Stewart is the location of one of her ex-husband's affairs. She revealed that Andrew had an affair "right on our property," a devastating betrayal that occurred within the sanctuary of their home, likely the famous Turkey Hill farm in Westport, Connecticut, or their Katonah property. This geographical proximity of the betrayal underscores the deep emotional wound that contributed to the eventual divorce filing in 1990.

The Painful Silence and Lasting Impact of the Divorce

The divorce between Martha and Andrew Stewart was finalized in 1990, marking the end of a 29-year relationship that produced their only child, Alexis Stewart. The split was reportedly acrimonious, and the fallout has had a lasting impact on their relationship, or lack thereof.

The "Painful" Lack of Communication

In one of the documentary's most poignant moments, Martha expresses deep regret over the complete cessation of contact between the former couple. She stated that the fact they "haven't spoken since the divorce is even more painful." This revelation highlights that despite their mutual infidelity, the end of the marriage was a source of profound and enduring emotional distress for the lifestyle maven.

Life After Andrew: A New Chapter of High-Profile Dating

Following the divorce, Martha Stewart focused intensely on building her business, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, but also embarked on a new chapter in her personal life. Her relationship history since the divorce is notably high-profile. She was involved with billionaire software developer Charles Simonyi, the creator of Microsoft Office and "father of Excel," in an on-again, off-again relationship that lasted 15 years. She also reportedly dated publishing mogul Mort Zuckerman and even briefly had a relationship with celebrated actor Anthony Hopkins. These relationships solidified her status as a powerful, independent woman who was not defined by her past marriage.

The Legacy of Alexis Stewart

The enduring connection between Martha and Andrew is their daughter, Alexis Gilbert Stewart. Born in 1965, Alexis has followed a path in media as a television and radio host, often speaking candidly about her unique upbringing as the daughter of two highly driven, successful, and complicated parents. Her existence is a testament to the life Martha and Andrew built together before the infidelities and the painful divorce tore them apart. The documentary is expected to give further insight into how the marital struggles affected Alexis, adding another layer to the already complex narrative of the Stewart family.

Ultimately, Martha Stewart’s decision to finally confess to her own infidelity, decades after the divorce, demonstrates a new willingness to embrace her vulnerability. The Netflix documentary *Martha* promises to be a raw, unfiltered look at the woman behind the perfect image, proving that even the most impeccably curated lives are built on a foundation of human imperfections and complicated secrets.

martha stewart confesses to infidelity during her marriage
martha stewart confesses to infidelity during her marriage

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