Tomás Enrique Araya Daz is a Chilean-American musician best known as the frontman and bassist for Slayer, an American thrash metal band. Hit Parader ranks Araya 58th on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time.
In the early 1980s, Araya worked as a respiratory therapist and used his money to fund Slayer’s debut album, Show No Mercy. Much of Araya’s lyrical content is about serial killers, which he finds fascinating; his first credited lyrical contribution was the vampire-themed single “At Dawn They Sleep” from Hell Awaits, released in 1985.
Quick Facts
| Real Name | Tom Araya |
| Date of birth | Jun 6, 1961 |
| Birth Place | Viña del Mar |
| Profession | Singer, Musician |
| Nationality | American |
| Net Worth 2022 | $14 Million |
| Net Worth 2023 | $14 Million |
Tom Araya’s Net Worth
Om Araya, the former vocalist, and bassist for the thrash metal band Slayer, was believed to have a net worth of $14 million. Please keep in mind that net worth might change over time owing to a variety of factors such as investments, company initiatives, and market conditions. It is best to contact reputable sources or conduct a search on recent financial updates for the most up-to-date information on Tom Araya’s net worth.
Tom Araya Early Life and Career
Tom Araya was born Tomás Enrique Araya Diaz on June 6, 1961 in Via del Mar, Chile. When he was five years old, his family relocated to the United States. At the age of eight, he began learning to play bass after his older brother began playing guitar.
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They practiced Beatles and Rolling Stones songs together to improve their musical abilities. Araya’s older sister participated in a respiratory therapy program after graduating from high school. His father suggested that Araya join the course as well unless he found work.
Araya enrolled in the two-year technical course, where he studied air mixture rationing, blood drawing, and intubation. He finished the program and began working as a respiratory therapist. Throughout this time, he continued to play music and hone his bass talents.
Kerry King met Araya in 1981 and offered him to join his band, Slayer. Araya accepted the offer and used his salary as a respiratory therapist to fund the band’s debut album in 1993. “Show No Mercy,” the album, spawned a tour.
In 1984, Araya requested time off from his work, at the Brotman Medical Center, to join the band’s first European tour. His request, however, was denied. After a month of showing up intermittently to his shifts, he was told he might be fired if he did not start showing up more frequently.
Faced with these threats, he decided to resign from his employment in order to dedicate his complete attention to the band. Since then, Araya has been one of the two original members of Slayer to continue with the band from 1981 to 2019.
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Slayer released a three-track EP called “Haunting the Chapel” in June 1984, which had a darker and more thrash-oriented tone than their debut LP. It laid the groundwork for the band’s future direction, and the EP’s opening tune, “Chemical Warfare,” has remained a live staple at practically every show since 1984.
The band recorded the live CD “Live Undead” in New York City later that year. Slayer toured with Venom and Exodus the next year. They also supported Megadeath, Destruction, D.R.I., Possessed, Agent Steel, and Nasty Savage on stage.