Steve Madden (born 1958) is an American fashion designer and businessman.

He is
most well known as the founder and former CEO of Steven Madden, Ltd., a publicly
traded company.

Steve Madden
Born
1958 (age 59–60)
Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City, New York, United States
Occupation
Fashion designer Businessman
Label(s)
Steve Madden
Spouse(s)
Wendy Ballew (m. 2005–2015)
Children
three
Contents
Life and career Edit

Madden was born in Far Rockaway, Queens, and has Irish and Jewish ancestry.[1] He
grew up in adjoining Lawrence and graduated from the local high school[2][3] in
Nassau County, New York.[4][5] The youngest of three brothers, he started the
company with $1,100 in 1990 by selling shoes out of the trunk of his car.

Criminal conviction Edit

Madden's financial affairs were closely entangled with Long Island "pump and dump"
brokerage house Stratton Oakmont, cofounded by Madden's childhood friend Danny
Porush, who first lent him money to expand his fledgling company, and then
underwrote its initial public offering.

In June 2000, a class action lawsuit was filed against Madden for issuing
materially false and misleading statements during the Class Period.[6] A settlement
of $9 million was reached in 2004.[7] In 2001, the SEC filed charges against Madden
in Federal Court in New York state, alleging SEC violations.[8] Because the
violations were not criminal in nature, the SEC was seeking to recover $1,637,000
in a combination of illegally avoided losses, interest, and a civil penalty.

In 2002, Madden was convicted of stock manipulation, money, and securities fraud.
He was sentenced to 31 months in prison, and was made to resign as CEO from Steven
Madden, Ltd. and from the board of directors.[9] Shortly after resigning as CEO,
Madden set himself up as a creative consultant with Steven Madden, Ltd., a position
for which he drew $700,000 even when he was in prison.[9]

Madden served time in the Federal Prison Camp, Eglin, at Eglin Air Force Base, and
later the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, near Ocala, Florida. Madden was
released from prison in April 2005.[10] He then attended a New York City halfway
house.[11] Madden's attorney, Joel Winograd, said that Madden would stay at the
house for 60 days.[12] After his release from a halfway house, he was restricted to
home confinement for a period.[13]

Post-release Edit

Since Madden was released from prison in 2005, the company quickly rebounded,
increasing revenue by nearly $100 million in 2006 to $475.1 million.[14] That same
year, Steven Madden, Ltd. was named ‘Company of the Year’ for the second time at
the Footwear News Achievement Awards. [15]

With Madden currently serving as the founder and design chief, the company
continues to show growth year-over-year reporting $1.41 billion in revenue for
FY2015.[16]

Madden has also contributed to various charities and organizations, including The
Doe Fund, which helps develop and implement cost-effective, holistic programs that
meet the needs of a diverse population working to break the cycles of homelessness,
addiction and criminal recidivism.[17]

In popular culture Edit

Steve Madden (played by Jake Hoffman) is featured in the Martin Scorsese film The
Wolf of Wall Street, which is based on the Jordan Belfort memoir of the same name.
In the movie, Madden is seen visiting Stratton Oakmont, where Belfort gives the
brokers a rousing pep talk about pushing Madden's stock.[18] After viewing the
film, Madden criticized the portrayal of him as "too nerdy."[19]

Personal life Edit

Madden married Wendy Ballew, his former director of operations, in 2005 after he
was released from prison. The couple have three children, twins Jack and Stevie
Madden,[20] and Goldie Ryan Madden.[21] The couple divorced in 2015.[22]

Awards and honors Edit

Footwear News Person of the Year Award (December 2011)[23]

NASDAQ Honors Steve Madden & 20 Year Anniversary (June 2010)[24]
Two Ten Foundation Honors Steve Madden (June 2010)[25]
References Edit

^ Berkman, Johanna (February 26, 2001). "Steve Madden: Crisis of the Sole". New
York. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
^ "Steve Madden: Crisis of the Sole". NYMag.com.
^ Lawrence a Winner in NBC Smash Contest Designer Steve Madden also set to match
prize. "Lawrence High School will see an infusion of $6,000 to get its Sandy-
damaged auditorium in top shape after the school was named one of five grand prize
winners in NBC Smash’s "Make a Musical" contest, which will be matched by alumnus
and fashion designer Steve Madden."
^ Dominguez, Robert (October 19, 2006). "Bringing It Back Home. Steve Madden's new
ad campaign focuses on his fashion center - Queens". Daily News. Retrieved 2015-01-
11. He grew up in Lawrence, L.I., where he worked in shoe stores from his high-
school days until he started his own business in 1990, at 33, with an investment of
just $1,100.
^ Weisman, Aly (January 14, 2014). "Steve Madden Thought His 'Wolf Of Wall Street'
Portrayal Was 'Too Nerdy'". Business Insider. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
^ "Class Action Against Steve Madden".
^ "Steven Madden, Ltd. case".
^ "Steve Madden: Litigation Release No. 17015 / May 23, 2001". sec.gov.
^ a b Walker, Rob (10 April 2002). "Genius of Capitalism: Steve Madden". Slate.
Retrieved 28 October 2010.
^ Setoodeh, Ramin. "Back on His Feet Again." Newsweek. 2007. 1. Retrieved on
January 10, 2010.
^ "[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-131941833.html Madden Back in NYC After
Prison Release." Footwear News. April 25, 2005. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
^ "Steve Madden released from federal prison." Newsday. April 16, 2005. Retrieved
on January 10, 2010.
^ Bonawitz, Amy. "Passages." People. June 27, 2005. Volume 63, No. 25. Retrieved on
January 10, 2010.
^ Setoodeh, Ramin. "How Prison Made Steve Madden a Better Man." Newsweek. 2007.
[1]"
^ "Milestone: 20 and Counting" Footwear News. 2010. [2]"
^ MarketWatch "http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/shoo/financials"
^ "Who We Are" The Doe Fund[3]"
^ "Steve Madden Thought His 'Wolf Of Wall Street' Portrayal Was 'Too Nerdy'".
Business Insider. 14 January 2014.
^ Johnson, Richard. "Steve Madden not keen on his portrayal in 'Wolf of Wall
Street'". Page Six. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
^ Triggs, Charlotte (October 4, 2007). "Steve Madden, Wife Welcome Twins". People.
Retrieved 2015-01-11.
^ Leon, Anya (March 13, 2013). "Steve Madden Welcomes Daughter Goldie Ryan".
People. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
^ "Shoe mogul Steve Madden to divorce wife who was his first employee and who he
proposed to in prison after 10