POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, American Century
Variable Portfolios, Inc., hereinafter called the "Corporation", and certain
directors and officers of the Corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint
William M. Lyons, David C. Tucker, Charles A. Etherington, David H. Reinmiller,
Charles C.S. Park, Janet A. Nash, Brian L. Brogan and Otis H. Cowan, and each of
them individually, their true and lawful attorneys and agents to take any and
all action and execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents
may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Corporation to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and any rules, regulations, orders, or other requirements of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in connection with the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended, including specifically, but without limitation of the
foregoing, power and authority to sign the name of the Corporation in its behalf
and to affix its corporate seal, and to sign the names of each of such directors
and officers in their capacities as indicated, to any amendment or supplement to
the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and to any instruments or documents filed or to be filed as a part of
or in connection with such Registration Statement; and each of the undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and agents shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Power to be
executed by its duly authorized officers on this the 18th day of November, 2000.
AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.


                                          By: /*/ William M. Lyons
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          WILLIAM M. LYONS, President and
                                          Principal Executive Officer


                               SIGNATURE AND TITLE


/*/ William M. Lyons                      /*/ Robert W. Doering, M.D.
------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
WILLIAM M. LYONS                         ROBERT W. DOERING, M.D.
President and                            Director
Principal Executive Officer

/*/ Robert T. Jackson                    /*/ Andrea C. Hall, Ph.D.
------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
ROBERT T. JACKSON                        ANDREA C. HALL, PH.D.
Executive Vice President and             Director
Principal Financial Officer

/*/ Maryanne Roepke                      /*/ D.D. ("Del") Hock
------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
MARYANNE ROEPKE                          D.D. ("DEL") HOCK
Senior Vice President, Treasurer and     Director
Principal Accounting Officer

/*/ James E. Stowers, Jr.                /*/ Donald H. Pratt
------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
JAMES E. STOWERS, JR.                    DONALD H. PRATT
Director                                 Director


/*/ James E. Stowers III                 /*/ Gale E. Sayers
------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
JAMES E. STOWERS III                     GALE E. SAYERS
Director                                 Director


/*/ Thomas A. Brown                      /*/ M. Jeannine Strandjord
------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
THOMAS A. BROWN                          M. JEANNINE STRANDJORD
Director                                 Director

Attest:

By:  /*/ Paul Carrigan, Jr.
     ---------------------------------
     Paul Carrigan Jr., Secretary