Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL BY
THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Daniel J. Starks, John C. Heinmiller and Pamela S. Krop, each with
full power to act without the other, his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him or her and
in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of St. Jude Medical, Inc. for the fiscal year ended
January 3, 2009, and any or all amendments to said Annual Report, and to file
the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to file the same
with such other authorities as necessary, granting unto each such
attorney-in-fact and agent 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 or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each such attorney-in-fact
and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power
of Attorney has been signed on this 20th day of February, 2009, by
the following persons.

|                                                 |  |                               | 
|------------------------------------------------ |  | ----------------------------- | 
|                                                 |  | /s/    BARBARA
 B. HILL       | 
|Daniel J.
 Starks                                |  | Barbara B.
 Hill              | 
|Chairman,
 President and Chief Executive Officer |  | Director                      | 
|(Principal
 Executive Officer)                   |  |                               | 
|                                                 |  |                               | 
|/s/    JOHN
 C. HEINMILLER                       |  | /s/    MICHAEL
 A. ROCCA      | 
|John C.
 Heinmiller                              |  | Michael A.
 Rocca             | 
|Executive
 Vice President and                    |  | Director                      | 
|Chief
 Financial Officer                         |  |                               | 
|(Principal
 Financial and Accounting Officer)    |  |                               | 
|                                                 |  |                               | 
|/s/    JOHN
 W. BROWN                            |  | /s/    STEFAN
 K. WIDENSOHLER | 
|John W.
 Brown                                   |  | Stefan K.
 Widensohler        | 
|Director                                         |  | Director                      | 
|                                                 |  |                               | 
|/s/    RICHARD
 R. DEVENUTI                      |  | /s/    WENDY
 L. YARNO        | 
|Richard R.
 Devenuti                             |  | Wendy L.
 Yarno               | 
|Director                                         |  | Director                      | 
|                                                 |  |                               | 
|/s/    STUART
 M. ESSIG                          |  |                               | 
|Stuart M.
 Essig                                 |  |                               | 
|Director                                         |  |                               | 
|                                                 |  |                               | 
|/s/    THOMAS
 H. GARRETT III                    |  |                               | 
|Thomas H.
 Garrett III                           |  |                               | 
|Director                                         |  |                               | 

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