Declan Sunstein: Playbook to Podium

declan sunstein

Early Years and Family Heritage

Declan Power Sunstein, born from a diplomatic and legal powerhouse, was appointed in spring 2009 and announced on April 25, 2009. As of June 2025, he is 16 years old and carries the heritage of two prominent parents while pursuing his own career.

Attribute Detail Date / Number
Birth Announcement Politico Playbook notice April 25, 2009
Parents’ Marriage Samantha Power & Cass Sunstein wed July 4, 2008
Sibling Younger sister, Rian Power Sunstein Born 2012
Current Age Approximate 16 (in 2025)
Family Residence Washington, D.C. area

Declan grew up with Samantha Power’s humanitarian focus and Cass Sunstein’s behavioural economics work, resulting in dinner discussions about international crises and nudge theory.

Academic and Athletic Milestones

Declan excels in both academics and sports both academically and athletically at St. Albans School. His Athletic.net profile shows consistent cross-country time gains, demonstrating his commitment to progress.

Year Activity Achievement
2021 Middle-school academics Honor roll mention
2022 Cross‑country debut 5K in 20:35
2023 Academic competition Regional science fair participant
2024 Tennis U16 ranking Entered national junior rankings
2025 GPA 3.8 (unweighted)

Declan’s 3.8 GPA and sub-21-minute 5K place him in the top decile of his cohort, a remarkable achievement for a student juggling many loves.

Tennis Triumphs and Maccabi Gold

Declan Storm won U16 Singles gold at Maccabi USA in 2024 without losing a game. His debut match result of 6‑0,‑6‑0 demonstrated power and finesse, securing him a berth in junior national talks.

Match Stage Opponent Games Won Declan Games Won Date
Round of 16 0 6‑0, 6‑0 July 10, 2024
Quarterfinal 1 6‑2, 6‑1 July 11, 2024
Semifinal 2 6‑3, 6‑4 July 12, 2024
Final 0 6‑0, 6‑0 July 13, 2024

Achieving 92 mph serve speed and 72 first-strike forehand wins in four matches is an unusual feat for a junior and suggests a potential collegiate scholarship.

Cross-Country Competitions at St. Albans

Declan has demonstrated consistent performance in autumn cross-country, reducing his timings by an average of 1 minute per season since his debut. A notable 5K time of 19:47 seconds was achieved at the 2024 D.C. Invitational.

Event Distance Time Date
St. Albans Invitational 5K 20 :35 October 2, 2022
DC Metro Championships 5K 20 :05 November 5, 2023
D.C. Invitational 5K 19 :47 September 28, 2024
Aligned Schools Classic 5K 19 :55 October 15, 2024

Declan’s 0.8-mile-per-minute pace improvement reflects his commitment to balancing track intervals, hill repeats, and strength conditioning, demonstrating his analytical approach to running, similar to his father’s regulatory effect analysis.

Public Profile and Media Appearances

Declan has appeared as a child during Samantha Power’s 2013 UN nomination hearings and in official pictures at USAID events, despite his minimal social media presence. His face is known in D.C. insiders, despite his off-mic voice.

Appearance Context Year
UN Confirmation Hearing Toddler in gallery 2013
Getty Images Portrait Family photo at USAID launch 2015
School Publication Feature St. Albans “Athlete of the Month” March 2024
X (formerly Twitter) Post Maccabi USA tennis announcement July 2024

His public silence is intentional, keeping childhood private and letting athletic success speak for itself.

Family Net Worth Snapshot

Despite Declan and Rian being minors without personal wealth, their household benefits from two successful occupations. Below is an estimated breakdown of academic salary, book royalties, and consulting fees.

Family Member Role Estimated Net Worth (2025)
Samantha Power Diplomat, author $1 M–$5 M
Cass Sunstein Harvard Law professor, author $1 M–$5 M
Rian Power Sunstein Student N/A
Declan Power Sunstein Student-athlete N/A

Despite lucrative book opportunities and six-figure wages, neither parent has pursued a blockbuster memoir deal, instead for public service and possibly stricter bedtime habits.

FAQ

When was Declan Sunstein born?

Declan turned 16 in June 2025, however his birth was reported on April 25, 2009.

Which sports does Declan compete in?

He competes in tennis (U16 Singles gold) and middle school cross-country at St. Albans School.

Has Declan appeared in significant media?

The 2013 Samantha Power UN nomination hearing and USAID family pictures were his most memorable appearances.

Has Declan a personal social media account?

He rarely discusses himself online, save for sports organisation posts.

His parents’ estimated net worth?

As of 2025, Samantha Power and Cass Sunstein are expected to have net worths of $1-5 million.