---
title: "Video: How the smiley face became a $500m business  - The Hustle"
description: The Smiley Company office in London, England, is a wonder to behold. Smiley paintings line the walls. Smiley plush pillows adorn the couches. There are smiley backpacks, smiley T-shirts, smiley exercise balls, smiley toys, smiley chocolates, and even smiley chicken nuggets. Nearly 50 years ago, one man “invented” the modern smiley face. Then, another man halfway across the world made
image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1002540124-hustle-og-image.webp
---

# Video: How the smiley face became a $500m business

![Sidd Finch](https://thehustle.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/siddfinch-1.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=siddfinch-1.jpg) [Sidd Finch](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/sidd-finch) [Sidd Finch Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/TheHustle)

Published:  March 23, 2023

Updated:  October 11, 2023

The Smiley Company office in London, England, is a wonder to behold.

![Video: How the smiley face became a $500m business](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1002540124-hustle-og-image.webp?width=595&height=400&name=1002540124-hustle-og-image.webp)

Smiley paintings line the walls. Smiley plush pillows adorn the couches. There are smiley backpacks, smiley T-shirts, smiley exercise balls, smiley toys, smiley chocolates, and even smiley chicken nuggets.

Nearly 50 years ago, one man “invented” the modern smiley face. Then, another man halfway across the world made it into a multimillion-dollar cash cow.

But how did it get there?

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