John Ilhan

John Ilhan (born Mustafa İlhan; 23 January 1965 – 23 October 2007) was an Australian businessman. He was the founder of Crazy John's mobile phone retail chain and, in 2003, was the richest Australian under 40 years of age.

Early life and career Ilhan was born in 1965 in Yozgat, Turkey, and migrated to Australia with his family when he was five. He grew up in working-class Broadmeadows in Melbourne's north-west. Here he attended Jacana Primary School and then Broadmeadows High School. Whilst at Jacana Primary he played in the school football, soccer and basketball teams.

After just one year at university and a short time as a salesman at Ford, Ilhan took a sales job at the phone and electrical retailer Strathfield Car Radio.

Wealth and philanthropy Ilan was ranked first in Business Review Weekly'''s Australia's Young Rich List 2003, with a net worth of A$200 million. In the 2007 Rich List, he was assessed as the 126th-richest man in Australia with a net worth of A$310 million. Having a net worth of over A$300 million by the age of 40, Ilhan became inspired to become a philanthropist, and contribute a large percentage of his earnings to charity. Before his death at the age of 42 in 2007, he was recognised as one of the country's most generous philanthropists, having had provided regular donations to a wide range of charitable organisations.

In 2006 Ilhan founded the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to promoting research and educating the public about the issues and causes surrounding anaphylaxis.

Death Ilhan died of a suspected heart attack, during a morning walk in Brighton, Melbourne, on 23 October 2007, aged 42. An autopsy later revealed that he died of a hereditary heart condition. He was survived by his wife, Patricia, and four children. His final interview was broadcast on Today Tonight'' on the day before his death. A traditional Islamic funeral was held at the Broadmeadows Mosque on 26 October 2007. Among the approximately 3,000 mourners were Ahmed Fahour and Eddie McGuire.