Resveratrol, a modulator of several signaling proteins, can exert off-target effects involving PPAR transcription factor. However, evidence for the direct interaction between this polyphenol and PPARs is lacking. Here, we addressed the hypothesis that resveratrol and its metabolites control aspects of PPAR transcriptional activity through direct interaction with PPARs. Bioaffinity chromatographic studies with the immobilized ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of PPARγ and PPARα and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) allowed the determination of the binding affinities of resveratrol, resveratrol 3-O-glucuronide, resveratrol 4-O-glucuronide and resveratrol 3-O-sulfate to both PPAR-LBDs. Interaction of resveratrol, resveratrol 3-O-glucuronide and resveratrol 4-O-glucuronide with PPARγ-LBD occurred with binding affinities of 1.4, 1.1 and 0.8 μM, respectively, while only resveratrol bound to the PPARα-LBD with a binding affinity of 2.7 μM. Subsequently, X-ray crystallographic studies were carried out to characterize resveratrol binding to the PPARγ-LBD at the molecular level. The electron density map from the crystal structure of the complex between PPARγ-LBD and resveratrol revealed the presence of one molecule of resveratrol bound into the LBD of PPARγ, with the ligand occupying a position close to that of other know PPARγ ligands. Transactivation assays were also performed in HepG2 cells and the results showed that resveratrol was not a PPAR agonist but, instead was able to displace rosiglitazone from PPARγ and Wy-14,643 from PPARα with IC50 values of 27.4 ± 1.8 μM and 31.7 ± 2.5 μM, respectively. We propose that resveratrol acts as a PPAR antagonist through its direct interaction with PPARγ and PPARα.