What Happened to Martha Stewart’s Former Best Friend Mariana Pasternak

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Martha

Netflix documentary Marthaexploring the life and career of Martha Stewart, exposed several revelations about the relationship between Stewart and those with whom she was close, including her former best friend, Mariana Pasternak. The two became friends after meeting in Westport, Connecticut, and remained close as Martha began to gain new levels of fame. Stewart even served as a bridesmaid at Pasternak’s wedding and as godmother to his children. In the Netflix documentary, which Martha Stewart herself criticized, Stewart describes the moment their seemingly strong friendship came to an end.

The lifestyle guru has had a storied, decades-long career that saw the high point of her becoming the first American woman to have a net worth of $1 billion, and the low point of a conviction for insider trading in 2004. Stewart’s conviction in the ImClone test is a moment when Martha it takes time to reflect on how Stewart’s relationships were impacted by the trial and his conviction. In particular, Martha Stewart’s longtime friend Mariana Pasternak played a key role in ensuring the housewife icon was finally found guilty.

What happened to Mariana Pasternak after she testified against Martha Stewart

Stewart’s longtime friend helped seal his conviction

In the Netflix documentary, Martha Stewart recalls how, while on vacation with Mariana Pasternak, she received a call from her broker to sell her ImClone shares, although she claims she had no further information at that time about why she was advised to sell. However, during the trial several years later, Mariana Pasternak took the stand as a witness and stated that Stewart had commented to her: “Isn’t it nice to have brokers who tell you these things?“

This statement served as the final nail in the coffin of Stewart’s trial because it showed the court that she had prior knowledge of the impending decline in the value of ImClone’s stock. According to a quote given by Pasternak in Marthashe told the truth in court because it was the right thing to do, but, When Pasternak saw Martha’s face across the courtroom, she knew their friendship was over.

Where is Mariana Pasternak now?

Pasternak revealed all in a memoir about his life with Martha

Although Pasternak knew his friendship with Martha Stewart ended after the trial, the story doesn’t end there. In 2011, she released a memoir titled Best friends: Martha and me detailing her relationship with the lifestyle star. The book outlined the beginning of their friendship, their travels, and the information they shared confidentially. However, the memoir also tells how their friendship had already begun to unravel before the trial. Ultimately, the memoir sheds light not only on the trial and problems, but also on the positive aspects of their friendship, for all the world to see.

Aside from the recognition Pasternak gained in the 2000s for being Martha Stewart’s best friend and, later, the person who helped seal her conviction, Mariana Pasternak has led a quiet life. Pasternak has two daughters. She also continues to live in Connecticut, where she works as a real estate agent. While the Netflix documentary Martha it shows the breakdown of their relationship, but it also highlights how central Pasternak is to the story.