<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------


        KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints each of Glenn P. Dickes, Joram C. Salig and Barry F. Schwartz or
any of them ' each acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-infact and agent,
with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, in connection with the M & F WORLDWIDE CORP. (the
"Corporation") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, to sign the Form 10-K in the name and
on behalf of the Corporation or on behalf of the undersigned as a director or
officer of the Corporation, and any amendments to the Form 10-K and any
instrument, contract, document or other writing, of or in connection with the
Form 10-K or amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, including this power of
attorney, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable
securities exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed these presents this 1st
day of March 1999.



                                                 /s/ Ronald O. Perelman
                                                 ----------------------

                                                 /s/ James R. Maher
                                                 ------------------

                                                 /s/ Jaymie A. Durnan
                                                 --------------------

                                                 /s/ Theo W. Folz
                                                 ----------------

                                                 /s/ Howard Gittis
                                                 -----------------

                                                 /s/ J. Eric Hanson
                                                 ------------------

                                                 /s/ E. Gregory Hookstratten
                                                 ---------------------------

                                                 /s/ Lance Liebman
                                                 -----------------

                                                 /s/ Paul M. Meister
                                                 -------------------

                                                 /s/ Bruce Slovin
                                                 ----------------

                                                 /s/ Stephen G. Taub
                                                 -------------------