Exhibit 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint John E. Sundeen, Jr., D. Tyler Towery and Daniel
C. Schulte, and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution and authority to do any and all
acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said
attorneys-in-fact and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required
to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000, the powers granted include the power and authority to
execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the part of or in
conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents
submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said
attorneys-in-fact and all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ Robert L. Hechler

                           Robert L. Hechler, Director
                           Date:  January 24, 2001



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint John E. Sundeen, Jr., D. Tyler Towery and Daniel
C. Schulte, and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution and authority to do any and all
acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said
attorneys-in-fact and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required
to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000, the powers granted include the power and authority to
execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the part of or in
conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents
submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said
attorneys-in-fact and all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ James M. Raines

                           James M. Raines, Director
                           Date:  January 29, 2001



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint John E. Sundeen, Jr., D. Tyler Towery and Daniel
C. Schulte, and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution and authority to do any and all
acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said
attorneys-in-fact and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required
to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000, the powers granted include the power and authority to
execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the part of or in
conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents
submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said
attorneys-in-fact and all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ Ronald C. Reimer

                           Ronald C. Reimer, Director
                           Date:  March 6, 2001



                           POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint John E. Sundeen, Jr., D. Tyler Towery and Daniel
C. Schulte, and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution and authority to do any and all
acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said
attorneys-in-fact and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required
to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000, the powers granted include the power and authority to
execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the part of or in
conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents
submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said
attorneys-in-fact and all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ William L. Rogers

                           William L. Rogers, Director
                           Date:  January 25, 2001



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint John E. Sundeen, Jr., D. Tyler Towery and Daniel
C. Schulte, and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution and authority to do any and all
acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said
attorneys-in-fact and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required
to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000, the powers granted include the power and authority to
execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the part of or in
conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents
submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said
attorneys-in-fact and all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ Jerry W. Walton

                           Jerry W. Walton, Director
                           Date:  January 22, 2001