Martha Stewart is not your ordinary woman—she is someone who has always invited strong opinions, no matter what she does. A media mogul, lifestyle guru, and entrepreneur, her influence on American culture is undeniable. Her story is incredibly compelling, too, thanks to her remarkable rise from virtually nothing to one of the most renowned household names. Stewart’s success did not come easy as she had to deal with several societal and personal challenges every step of the way to get where she is today.
But with her outstanding success, she’s built a reputation for being calculating, cold, and potentially narcissistic. Since her latest Netflix documentary ‘Martha’ hit the streaming platform, the 83-year-old has become subject to numerous queries, such as her health challenges, apparent neurodivergent traits, and now likely narcissism. Is this a harsh characterization of her personality, or a fair one? Let’s dive in.
Does Martha Stewart’s High-Standards Leadership Hint at Hidden Narcissism?
Before we can figure out whether or not Martha Stewart is a narcissist, we must first understand what the term means. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is basically when someone carries a massive ego, always craves attention, doesn’t really care about others’ feelings, and can’t handle criticism well. To be fair, you can’t just label someone with NPD based on how they act in public, but you might spot some of those narcissistic traits in her life and work.
So, is there evidence of narcissistic traits in Martha Stewart? There certainly is. The first is her self-perception and success. Stewart has never been one to downplay her successes. She never leaves any shortage of effort to boast how she’s shaped lifestyle culture and doesn’t hesitate in the slightest to share her confidence in her vision. In the Netflix documentary, when she keeps saying she’s “the best” at what she does or talking about how people misunderstand her as a strong woman, it kind of comes off like she has a seriously inflated ego.
Next, there’s evidence of controlling perfectionism. Everybody knows Martha Stewart is as big a perfectionist as they come. People who’ve worked with her say she’s super detail-oriented and has high standards, making her challenging to please. Her tendency to micromanage everything—from recipes to business deals—shows she likes to keep control and look flawless, which can definitely hint at some narcissistic traits.
Another major accusation against Stewart is that she lacks emotional warmth and empathy. Stories about her being cold with colleagues and her detached take on her marriage and personal life back up this claim. In the documentary, even when she talks about personal stuff like infidelity, she seems pretty emotionally checked out, focusing more on how it affected her career or public image than on the actual emotions.
Is Martha Stewart a Genuine Narcissist—or Just a Victim of Misogyny and Double Standards?
While it’s quite clear that Martha Stewart displays narcissistic traits, we must not ignore the cultural lens through which we often view powerful women. Women leaders often get judged way harder than men. Traits like being assertive, ambitious, or direct are usually seen as positives in men, but for women, they’re more likely to be called out in a negative light. Stewart pointed this out herself, saying society loves to knock down successful women, especially those who don’t fit that warm, likable image people expect.
Additionally, her tough professional attitude might have been something she needed to survive. Breaking into male-dominated spaces like Wall Street in the ‘60s and then making it as a successful CEO took serious grit. So, what we see as narcissistic traits might actually be the same qualities that helped her survive and thrive in a world that wasn’t exactly welcoming to women leaders.
There’s also a more human side to think about. People close to her say she grew up with a perfectionist, alcoholic father and dealt with big pressures in a pre-feminist society. That background could help explain her need for control and focus on the image. Her success might not just show her brilliance, but also be like armor she built to protect herself from feeling vulnerable. So, if Stewart comes off as cold or lacking empathy, maybe it’s more of a defense mechanism than straight-up narcissism.
So, is Martha Stewart a narcissist? It’s not that simple. She definitely shows some traits that fit the label—like a grandiose view of herself, perfectionism, and not showing much warmth. But calling her a narcissist outright might miss the bigger picture, like her life experiences and the cultural biases she’s dealt with.
