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                                                                      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 Daniel C. Schulte, John E. Sundeen, Jr. and Wendy J.
Hills, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and
in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority
to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which
said attorneys 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
foregoing, 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 and all that said attorneys
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/ Dennis E. Logue
               --------------------
               Dennis E. Logue
               January 17, 2002

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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does hereby
constitute and appoint Daniel C. Schulte, John E. Sundeen, Jr. and Wendy J.
Hills, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and
in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority
to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which
said attorneys 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
foregoing, 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 and all that said attorneys
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
               January 17, 2002

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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does hereby
constitute and appoint Daniel C. Schulte, John E. Sundeen, Jr. and Wendy J.
Hills, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and
in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority
to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which
said attorneys 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
foregoing, 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 and all that said attorneys
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
               January 16, 2002

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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does hereby
constitute and appoint Daniel C. Schulte, John E. Sundeen, Jr. and Wendy J.
Hills and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and
in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority
to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which
said attorneys 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
foregoing, 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 and all that said attorneys
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
               January 17, 2002

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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does hereby
constitute and appoint Daniel C. Schulte, John E. Sundeen, Jr. and Wendy J.
Hills, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and
in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority
to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which
said attorneys 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
foregoing, 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 and all that said attorneys
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
               January 17, 2002