He was the founder of Crazy John's mobile phone retail chain and, in 2003, was the richest Australian under 40 years of age.
[citation needed] 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.
[3] Ilan was ranked first in Business Review Weekly's Australia's Young Rich List 2003, with a net worth of A$200 million.
[4] 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.