Ethan Horvath's Nottingham Forest clinched promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years with a 1-0 win against Huddersfield in the Championship playoff final on Sunday.
Levi Colwill's own goal late in the first half at Wembley was enough for Steve Cooper's team to hit the jackpot in the most lucrative single match in soccer.
Promotion to the top-flight is estimated to be worth at least £170 million ($214 million) in increased revenue.
Forest will gratefully accept the huge financial windfall, but it was the relief at ending their long exile from English football's elite that spurred the frenzied scenes of celebration among their thousands of red and white-clad fans.
For the first time in the 21st century, Forest can look forward to welcoming the Premier League's elite to City Ground on the banks of the River Trent.
The promotion was a personal triumph for Cooper, who has revitalised Forest since replacing the sacked Chris Hughton in September.
Forest was bottom of the table after taking one point from their first seven games, but Cooper had the midas touch as he erased the bitter taste of his defeat with Swansea in last year's Championship playoff final against Brentford.
"I'm really pleased for the players and the supporters. Everybody connected with the football club deserves this today and we're now really looking forward to a positive future," Cooper said. "It's relief and pride. This isn't about me but it's changed my life, potentially anyway. We've brought Nottingham to Wembley today, we've taken over the place and here we are in the Premier League."
Cooper repaired the wounds of Forest's worst start to a season for 108 years and ensured they remained focus after losing a shot at automatic promotion in their penultimate game of the season against top-two rivals Bournemouth.
Fourth-place Forest beat Sheffield United on penalties in the playoff semifinal and held its nerve again to earn the ultimate prize against Huddersfield.
Having knocked Arsenal and Leicester out of this season's FA Cup before losing narrowly to Liverpool, Forest's sleeping giants have awoken from their slumber at last.
Forest's golden period came under legendary boss Brian Clough, who led them to the English title in 1978 and won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980.
Clough's retirement in 1993 triggered a steep decline in Forest's fortunes, with their wilderness years featuring a three-season spell in the third tier.
Forest had been regular visitors to Wembley during Clough's heyday, but this was their first appearance at the national stadium since 1992.
No wonder the Forest supporters in the crowd of 80,000 were in fine voice from the moment Ryan Yates headed James Garner's free-kick wastefully wide from six yards.
Forest was the better side in a frantic encounter, but there was more perspiration than inspiration for long periods as passes went astray from both teams.
Driven forward by Garner, the on-loan Manchester United midfielder, Forest broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute.
Garner whipped a dangerous inswinging cross into the Huddersfield area and Colwill inadvertently deflected it into his own net as the on-loan Chelsea defender tried to get to the ball before Yates.
Rocked by that blow, Huddersfield finally raised their tempo after halftime and Jonathan Hogg should have done better with a header that failed to hit the target from a corner.
The decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when Huddersfield were left fuming after being denied a strong penalty claim.
Harry Toffolo went down under a challenge from Jack Colback but referee Jon Moss booked the Huddersfield wing-back for diving and VAR refused to overturn the decision.
Huddersfield's frustration increased when another penalty appeal was rejected after Max Lowe bundled into Lewis O'Brien.
Forest's nerves frayed when keeper Brice Samba limped off injured in the final minutes and Horvath came on. The Reds held on, though, to earn their return to the big time.
smg/ea
© Agence France-Presse
How Cool, to get to play(Even if it was only 7 minutes) in a game that just won your Team ... $200,000,000.oo.!!!... Cha-Ching.!!!.... Way to go Ethan.!!! ... Even Real Madrid only got 82 million Total Winnings for the whole Champions League Season.!?!?!?
I watched most of it. Happy for Horvath but was very nervous when he went on. Turned out uneventful for him. Now our top 3 international keepers are all in the EPL but all on the bench unfortunately. Interesting times for the USMNT!
Huddersfield swan dive in the 18 results in a yellow for Simulation from Moss. At the worst I think he should have kept his cards in his pocket, but today in the EPL any contact results in a pen. Perfect reason why no English VARs going to the WC.
Yeah, that was Pretty Bad, No Call .. Clear PK