Aston Villa reportedly declined an offer to share any potential Wembley windfall with Bradford City before the second leg of their League Cup semi-final.
The Sun reports that Bradford came to Villa offering the 50-50 split before Tuesday's clash at Villa Park.
With the Premier League club 3-1 down from the first leg, it is believed that some at Villa Park were in favour of the deal.
However, manager Paul Lambert reportedly shot down the proposed deal meaning that Villa, to coin a phrase from a popular TV Quiz show, 'leave with nothing.'
Bradford, who have twice been in administration in recent years, were so keen to ensure they would receive some sort of substantial pay day that they even looked to take out £250,000 of insurance in case they did not make the final.
The FA blocked that move, but it all worked out perfectly for the Bantams as their 4-3 aggregate win ensured a bumper final pay-day against Swansea.
The club's historic appearance in the final will earn the fourth-tier side around £1 million in gate receipts and television cash.
Each finalist will receive 45 per cent of the gate receipts from Wembley Stadium, the Football League has confirmed.
The players will split around £250,000 of that in bonuses, but the rest of the money will go toward helping the League Two club in their efforts to regain their former heights, according to joint chairman Mark Lawn.
"The money means that if we don't get promotion this year then hopefully we can keep this side together," Lawn told Press Association Sport.
"Of course we are hoping to get promotion as well, and maybe getting to the final will instil some more belief into the players."
The income from the cup run will also allow Bradford to go on a winter training break to Tenerife, a welcome change from their usual training ground at Apperley Bridge which is currently under two inches of snow. There will also be the reward of a trip to Las Vegas at the end of the season.
The Football League has confirmed that the winner will receive a place in the Europa League but, unlike the FA Cup, the runner-up will not benefit if the winner qualifies for Europe via the league.
Lawn insists he is not even considering the demands of applying for a UEFA licence, but says that whatever happens in the final, it has been an incredible journey for both the club and the city.
He added: "The money that will come into the club will mean so much - but it is important people know that there are outgoings as well. Around £250,000 will go on bonuses for the players.
"It is such a great achievement to get to Wembley, and not just for the club. What this does is let people not just in England but all around the country who are down in dumps with the recession show that the underdogs can come through, and that dreams can happen."