‘🙂‘ emoji created in 1963 by Harvey Ball, he never got royalties, but only paid a one-time fee of 45 dollars. State Mutual Life Assurance Company hired Harvey because of the In 1963, the company was experiencing morale problems as it grew, and decided on an in-house campaign to improve morale in their company resulting the smiley face pins that were printed and handed out were a huge succes.