Thomas "Tommy" Merlyn (born 1984) is a playboy "trustafarian", and the best friend of Oliver Queen. During Oliver's absence, he develops an on-again/off again relationship with Laurel Lance. When Oliver returns to Starling City, Tommy believes the good times will roll again, but is greatly mistaken as his father tires of his playboy lifestyle, and Oliver is a changed man. Tommy's father eventually decide that Tommy's "chronic irresponsibility and terminal laziness" make him unfit to inherit the family legacy and freezes all his assets.