<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 24.1
Page 1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                                Title



/s/ Simon B. Rich, Jr.                     Chairman of the Board of Directors
------------------------                   ----------------------------------


Simon B. Rich, Jr.
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 2


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title


/s/ Mark E. Monroe                              Director
------------------------                        --------


Mark E. Monroe
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 3


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title



/s/ Richard E. Bross                            Director
------------------------                        --------


Richard E. Bross
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 4


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title


/s/ Gerard Louis-Dreyfus                        Director
------------------------                        --------


Gerard Louis-Dreyfus
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 5


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title



/s/ Daniel R. Finn, Jr.                         Director
------------------------                        --------


Daniel R. Finn, Jr.
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 6


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title



/s/ Peter G. Gerry                              Director
------------------------                        --------


Peter G. Gerry
------------------------
(Please print name)


<PAGE>


Page 7


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title



/s/ John H. Moore                               Director
------------------------                        --------


John H. Moore
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 8


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title



/s/ James R. Paul                               Director
------------------------                        --------


James R. Paul
------------------------
(Please print name)




<PAGE>


Page 9


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                              Title



/s/ Mark Andrews                       Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
------------------------               ---------------------------------------


Mark Andrews
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 10


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title



/s/ E. William Barnett                          Director
------------------------                        --------


E. William Barnett
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 11


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title



/s/ Nancy K. Quinn                              Director
------------------------                        --------


Nancy K. Quinn
------------------------
(Please print name)



<PAGE>


Page 12


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Jeffrey A. Bonney, Mark E. Monroe and Kevin R. White, and each or any
of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to sign the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. and any and all amendments thereto and
to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said
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, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


DATED this 27th day of February, 2001.

Signature                                        Title



/s/ Ernest F. Steiner                           Director
------------------------                        --------


Ernest F. Steiner
------------------------
(Please print name)