Martha Stewart has offered a glimpse into the changing business of celebrity fashion, revealing that she has been offered as much as $40,000 (around £30,190) worth of clothing when invited to attend a fashion show.
The lifestyle entrepreneur discussed the arrangement during the debut episode of MasterClass' new business podcast, 'Other People's Business', released on Tuesday, 6 October. Speaking with host and MasterClass founder and CEO David Rogier, Stewart reflected on how the fashion and influencer industries have changed over the course of her career.
Her comments shed light on the value that brands can place on celebrity attendance at major fashion events, where front-row appearances can form part of wider relationships between designers, public figures and influencers.
Martha Stewart Reveals $40,000 Fashion Budget
During the conversation, Stewart explained that influencers can now receive compensation in different forms, including clothing rather than direct payment.
'Now the influencers are getting paid either in goods, I mean, I get asked to go to a fashion show, and I then get $40,000 worth of clothes,' Stewart said.
Rogier responded by asking whether the clothing was actually provided to her ahead of the event. Stewart explained that she was given $40,000 worth of clothes to select what she wanted to wear to the fashion show, adding that she was allowed to keep the pieces afterwards.
'They're giving you $40,000 worth of clothes so you can buy whatever you want to wear and wear it to the show,' she said. 'And you get to keep the clothes.'
The revelation highlights one of the ways fashion brands can work with high-profile guests attending runway events. Rather than simply borrowing an outfit for a single appearance, Stewart described an arrangement in which the recipient could choose clothing up to the stated value.
Stewart Has Attended Major Fashion Shows
Stewart is no stranger to the front rows of major fashion events. She attended the Carolina Herrera show during New York Fashion Week in February 2026, where she was photographed among the guests at the Fall/Winter 2026 presentation.
Her continued presence at fashion events comes alongside her long-standing career as a lifestyle entrepreneur, author and media personality. Stewart began building her business empire in the early 1980s, initially establishing herself through books and other lifestyle ventures.
Her discussion on the podcast focused not only on fashion but also on the wider evolution of influencer marketing and the ways public figures can generate income from their visibility.
Martha Stewart on the Changing Influencer Industry
Stewart shared her view that being an influencer involves more than simply having an audience. 'You can be an influencer, but if you're not making money at it, you're not really an influencer,' she said. 'You have to make money.'
She connected the changes in influencer marketing to the growth of the internet and social media, as well as shifts in traditional advertising. According to Stewart, the business landscape has changed significantly since she established her career. She pointed to the decline of traditional advertising arrangements involving television programmes and magazines as one factor that has altered how personalities and businesses generate revenue.
'Everything has changed,' Stewart said, referring to the impact of the internet and social media on the industry.
From Lifestyle Brand to Fashion Influence
Stewart also discussed her earlier business successes during the podcast, including her Martha Stewart Everyday line with Kmart, which launched in 1997.
She described the Kmart brand as her 'first big money' and recalled how the business helped shape her career as a lifestyle entrepreneur. Her career has since expanded across publishing, television, food, home and lifestyle products, while her name has remained closely associated with American lifestyle culture.
The fashion industry, meanwhile, has developed a more prominent role for celebrities and influencers, particularly around major events such as New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks.
Celebrity Fashion Deals Continue To Evolve
Stewart's comments provide an example of how compensation for high-profile fashion appearances can extend beyond traditional paid endorsements.
For celebrities and influencers, attending a runway show can involve clothing, sponsorships and other forms of brand support. The value of these arrangements can vary depending on the individual, the brand and the nature of the partnership. In Stewart's case, she said the fashion-show arrangement she experienced involved $40,000 worth of clothes that she could select and keep.
Her appearance on 'Other People's Business' also reflects her broader interest in the commercial side of influence. As social media has changed how celebrities and entrepreneurs communicate with audiences, brands have increasingly developed different ways of working with people who can bring attention to their products and events.
