The power distribution is defined as the inverse of the Pareto distribution. We study in full detail a distribution so-called the beta power distribution. We obtain analytical forms for its probability density and hazard rate functions. Explicit expressions are derived for the moments, probability weighted moments, moment generating function, mean deviations, Bonferroni and Lorenz curves, moments of order statistics, entropy and reliability. We estimate the parameters by maximum likelihood. The practicability of the model is illustrated in two applications to real data.