EXHIBIT 99.1

   Media Contact: Kekst & Co.            STILWELL
      Robert Siegfried (212-521-4832)    FINANCIAL INC.
      Michael Herley (212-521-4897)
                                                     920 Main Street, 21st Floor
                                                    Kansas City, Missouri  64105

Investors Contact:                                              NYSE Symbol:  SV
  Landon H. Rowland (816-218-2416)
    Chairman, President and CEO

  Douglas E. Pittman (816-218-2415)      Release No. 2001-03    January 26, 2001
    Manager of Investor Relations


                                 {NEWS RELEASE}
                             STILWELL FINANCIAL INC.
                         TO INCREASE OWNERSHIP STAKE IN
                            JANUS CAPITAL CORPORATION


Kansas City, Missouri

Stilwell Financial Inc.  ("Stilwell";  the "Company") (NYSE: SV) announced today
that it will  purchase  600,000  shares of Janus Capital  Corporation  ("Janus")
common stock from Thomas H. Bailey,  the Chairman,  President,  Chief  Executive
Officer and founder of Janus. The 600,000 shares represent approximately 6.2% of
Janus stock  currently  outstanding  and one-half of the shares now owned by Mr.
Bailey.

Upon  completion of the  transaction,  Mr. Bailey will own  approximately  6% of
Janus and will continue to serve as its Chairman,  President and Chief Executive
Officer.  "This is  nothing  more than the second  phase of my estate  plan that
began in 1995 with the sale of my first block of 600,000 shares of Janus stock,"
Mr. Bailey said. "I'll turn 64 years old this year, and this is simply a prudent
and logical move that's part of a long-term financial plan."

The  purchase by Stilwell  will  increase its  ownership of Janus to 88.7%.  The
closing of the  purchase  is  expected to occur  within  approximately  30 days.
Landon H. Rowland, Chairman,  President and Chief Executive Officer of Stilwell,
stated:  "This purchase will provide  Stilwell with an additional block of Janus
stock  that  can be  used to  attract  managerial  talent,  to  provide  greater
incentives for key personnel at Janus and to assure  management  continuity.  We
respect Tom's desire to deal with estate and financial  planning matters.  Under
his  leadership,  we expect  that Janus  will  continue  to provide  outstanding
long-term results and quality customer service for its mutual fund shareowners."



Since Mr. Bailey  founded  Denver-based  Janus in 1969,  the firm has focused on
providing  long-term  investment  performance  through the rigorous analysis and
selection  of  individual  companies  poised for success.  The primary  entities
comprising  Stilwell are Janus,  Berger LLC, of which  Stilwell owns 100% of the
preferred  limited  liability  company  interests and  approximately  87% of the
regular limited liability company  interests;  Nelson Money Managers Plc, an 80%
owned subsidiary;  and DST Systems, Inc., an equity investment in which Stilwell
holds an approximately 33% interest.

                            * * * * * * * * * *


This press  release  includes  statements  concerning  potential  future  events
involving  the  Company,  which  could  materially  differ  from the events that
actually occur. The differences could be caused by a number of factors including
those factors identified in Stilwell's  Registration  Statement on Form 10 dated
June 15,  2000 and  filed  by the  Company  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  (Commission  file no.  001-15253).  The Company  will not update any
forward-looking  statements  in this press  release to reflect  future events or
developments.

                                     ....... The End